Democratic Women’s Caucus Members Fight to Keep Women Fed; Save the Care You Deserve

Washington, November 10, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) members continued to fight for women and families across every corner of the country. As President Trump chooses to starve women and children by calling on the United States Department of Agriculture to withhold benefits, DWC members are leading the charge to ensure benefits are paid in full so Americans can eat. DWC members are also continuing to fight to lower health care costs for women and families. 

Last week, DWC members:

Demanded the Trump Administration Fully Fund SNAP and Supported Community Efforts to Feed Constituents: 

  • Democratic Leadership, including Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05) and Democratic Steering & Policy Committee Co-Chairs Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), called out Republicans stealing food and health care from Americans at a Steering & Policy hearing.

“No one in this country should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, but because of Trump and Republicans’ refusal to fund SNAP, millions of families are being forced to,” said DWC Member Luz Rivas (CA-29)

  • DWC Member Julia Brownley (CA-26) held a press conference at Santa Paula City Hall to renew her demands for Republicans to end the government shutdown and protect Americans’ access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Following the press conference, she joined Food Share Ventura County and community volunteers for a meal distribution at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, underscoring that no family in America should ever have to wonder where their next meal will come from because of political games in Washington.


“Donald Trump had the funds and the legal authority to ensure families didn’t go hungry on November 1 – but he chose not to. Instead, he’s sending $40 billion to bail out Argentina while American children go hungry. Let’s be clear: this was a deliberate choice – a weaponization of hunger to score political points. It’s cruel. It’s unnecessary. And it’s un-American,” said DWC Member Julia Brownley (CA-26).

  • DWC Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Liaison Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) volunteered at a food bank in her district to serve meals to those impacted by the Trump administration’s cuts to SNAP.

“In the richest country in the world, there should be no hunger. And when there is hunger, as there is in America today, it is our moral obligation to make sure people have food," said DWC Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Liaison Pramila Jayapal (WA-07).

  • DWC Reproductive Health Care Task Force Co-Chair & Liaison Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) held an emergency convening and press conference with SNAP-dependent food retailers to make plain how the Trump-Republican shutdown and ongoing uncertainty over November SNAP benefits are harming Massachusetts families and their local economy. 

“Trump and Republicans’ government shutdown and refusal to fully fund SNAP is not only leaving our families hungry, but it is also pushing local, small businesses and farmers out of business, destroying local economies, and leaving communities without an essential resource,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “Thank you to the Dorchester Food Co-op for having us and to the many corner store owners, nonprofit leaders, urban farmers, and grocers for the role you play in keeping our families fed. Together, we’ll keep pushing to end Republicans’ shameful government shutdown and get SNAP funds out the door, and we’ll keep choosing community over chaos,” said DWC Reproductive Health Care Task Force Co-Chair & Liaison Ayanna Pressley (MA-07).

“Our courts have spoken—the USDA must release SNAP contingency funds as we cannot let our families and elderly go hungry. And it’s time for my GOP colleagues to show up—I’ve been showing up for the past month to open government. Americans should not have to suffer any longer,” said DWC Member April McClain Delaney (MD-06).

Met With Constituents Impacted by the Republican Government Shutdown

  • DWC Congressional Black Caucus Liaison Lucy McBath (GA-07) toured a Head Start academy as the government shutdown continues to threaten Head Start funding.  

“I am worried about the fact that a parent might have to decide that they’re not going to be able to take a shift at work, because if this place closes down, then where are the children going to go,” said DWC Congressional Black Caucus Liaison Lucy McBath (GA-07)

  • DWC Member Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) hosted a roundtable ahead of Veterans Day to discuss the impact of the shutdown on veterans, the VA, and servicemembers overall.

“Ahead of Veterans Day, I reconvened our Veterans Advisory Council to hear directly from our Third District veterans and deliver an update on my work on the Armed Services Committee to improve veterans’ access to care here in Maryland. During the government shutdown, it was especially important to hear from our veterans, as nearly 1 in 3 federal employees are also military veterans. This Council is one of the many ways  I hear directly from our veterans, active servicemembers, and their families. As the daughter and granddaughter of Army, Navy, and Air Force veterans, I know the sacrifice that these men and women have made, and it’s why I’m determined to uplift their voices here in the halls of Congress,” said DWC Member Sarah Elfreth (MD-03).