SisterSong’s Statement on Governor Kemp’s inaction to utilize $14B SNAP Surplus

The following statement can be attributed to Monica Simpson, Executive Director of SisterSong: 

“Every Georgian deserves access to nutritious food — that is our fundamental human right, not a privilege. In our state, more than two million Georgians rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to keep food on the table. Yet right now, the government shutdown has placed these essential programs under threat. Despite our state’s surplus of over $14 billion, Governor Kemp says there is no solution. Let’s be clear: Our governor’s refusal to fund SNAP benefits is cruel and inhumane. It is a clear act of reproductive injustice. 

The Reproductive Justice movement recognizes that access to food is essential for healthy pregnancies, growing families and thriving communities. Georgia is in the midst of a maternal health crisis. The abortion ban has only added fuel to the fire, as lifesaving care is now criminalized. We’ve seen the deadly consequences with the preventable deaths of Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller. As essential medical providers flee the state and economic opportunities dwindle, Georgia families pay the price. And now, policymakers are choosing to stand idly by while access to food is stripped away from children and families. This is not just a harmful policy; it is a direct attack on the health, safety, and rights of our communities. Any elected official who prioritizes partisan interests over the well-being of their constituents is failing to serve the people they swore to represent.

We will not stand by while our families are pushed to the margins. When systems fail us, we must take care of each other. We’re demanding what our communities have always deserved — justice, care, and the resources to thrive.”