Democrats are working to balance their health care demands and find solutions for SNAP, with Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Luján on Wednesday introducing legislation that would direct the USDA to release available contingency funds to ensure benefits under SNAP and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program continue during the shutdown.

On the Senate floor today, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) blasts majority leader John Thune (R-SD) for his inaction, calling him out on his fear of Donald Trump. Schumer urges Thune to put bipartisan bills on the floor to keep SNAP and WIC funded amid the government shutdown.

Senate Republicans have long resisted the temptation of going nuclear on the filibuster, a move more often made by Senate Democrats when they controlled the upper chamber.

Leader Thune’s position on the importance of the legislative filibuster is unchanged,” Ryan Wrasse, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), said in a statement. Public blames GOP more than Democrats for shutdown ahead of SNAP funding deadline GOP split: More senators push to restore food stamps despite shutdown Joni Ernst has novel approach to solving government's unused buildings problem: Spirit Halloween House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA),

President Trump called on Republicans Thursday to invoke the so-called “nuclear option” and change Senate rules to allow legislation to end the government shutdown.

The Senate majority leader talked to Semafor about how he’s navigating the imports debate and maintaining shutdown unity.

Republicans are blaming Democrats for SNAP food assistance ending, but blame lies with President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Rollins

A federal judge in Rhode Island blocked the Trump administration from ceasing to pay SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. The ruling came a day before the administration was set to cut off those food stamp benefits from 42 million Americans.