WREX: Stateline lawmaker to donate paycheck to local food bank

WASHINGTON, DC (WREX) — A Stateline lawmaker is helping a local food bank while the government shutdown continues.

Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL), who represents the Belvidere area in the 11th District, announced he will donate his pay earned during the government shutdown to Northern Illinois Food Bank.

Congressman Foster also donated his paycheck to the food bank during previous shutdowns in 2013 and 2019.

"It is unacceptable that federal employees are going without a paycheck, health insurance costs are skyrocketing, and families are seeing SNAP benefits threatened," said Foster.

A budget bill was passed earlier this year that Foster said would put 360,000 Illinoisans at risk of losing their benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families across the country.

For more information on the Northern Illinois Food Bank, SNAP, or the budget bill, follow any of the links above.