Porter proposal to help Hoosiers at risk of losing vital services
Hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers are at risk of losing their Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) next month due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. 571,594 Hoosiers received SNAP benefits as of September 2025, and an average of 155,500 pregnant women and infants received WIC benefits as of May 2025.
State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis), ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee and a ranking member of the State Budget Committee (SBC) plans to make recommendations to the latter group during an upcoming SBC meeting to transfer funds to the Family and Social Services Administration and the Division of Family Resources to cover the deficiency for SNAP payments. HIs proposal would also add a supplemental payment to food banks in the state.
The proposal would provide a tiered increase to Indiana’s supplemental payments for food banks from $2 million to $5 million, with an additional $2 million monthly as needed.
Porter issued the following statement regarding his planned proposal:
“Regardless of their political affiliation, every Hoosier should be horrified by the notion of a child going hungry. If SNAP and WIC benefits are cut, that’s exactly what will happen. We have an opportunity to ensure that Hoosiers continue to receive these vital services, regardless of whether the federal government reopens in the near future.
“It can’t be overstated that the state of Indiana has the ability to prevent this – this is simply about whether we have the political will to keep children, pregnant women and the elderly from going hungry.
"Just last month, the State Budget Committee approved a decision to reallocate funds from the Indiana Department of Correction toward the ‘Speedway Slammer,’ which houses detainees suspected of being in the country without documentation. SBC did this without any certain guarantee that the federal government will reimburse them for these services.
"If we can make a $16 million bet on prisons, we can surely bet on keeping Hoosiers from hunger. As a lawmaker, my priority is making sure Hoosiers have the resources they need to thrive, and this proposal would do just that. Hoosiers should not suffer because the folks in Washington, D.C. can’t get their act together. I’m calling on my colleagues in the State Budget Committee to find the political will to put the health and well-being of Hoosiers over any political games.”