Hawley introduces farm and SNAP funding bills amid government shutdown

First on Fox: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is looking to hold Democrats’ “feet to the fire” with new legislation seeking special funding for farmers and food assistance programs amid the government shutdown.

Hawley’s bills would restore federal funding to the Farm Service Agency as well as the federal SNAP food program. Democrats have so far refused to work with Republicans amid the government shutdown, now the second-longest in US history.

“We need to start forcing Democrats to make some tough votes. We need to start holding their feet to the fire,” Hawley said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “I mean, do they really not want people to be able to eat? This situation is ridiculous.”

He says the farm bill is crucial because the shutdown has hit directly into the harvest season in much of the country, including his home state of Missouri.

White House slams Schumer’s ‘disgusting’ statement on lockdown as political standoff continues

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has led Republicans in voting to fund the government 11 times since the shutdown began on October 1, but Democrats have refused to cooperate, demanding sweeping budget changes.

Senate Democrats, emboldened by weekend rallies, block GOP plan to end lockdown for 11th time

President Donald Trump has taken executive action to secure funding for military personnel, but the vast majority of the government remains at a standstill.

“I have great respect for what President Trump has done during this shutdown by diverting the funding pools available to him to help our military and police personnel,” Hawley said. “But even he will soon run out of tools.”

President Donald Trump has taken executive action to secure funding for military members during the government shutdown. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump, speaking to Hawley and other Senate Republicans at the White House on Tuesday, accused Democrats of “holding the entire federal government hostage.”

‘GOOFBALLS’ AND HOSTAGES: Republican senators say Schumer’s shutdown tactics are destroying the Senate

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Republican of New York, has remained stubborn in his demand for an extension of the expiration period. Obamacare subsidies. Although Senate Republicans were open to holding a vote on the issue after the government reopens, Democrats want a firm guarantee that the benefits will be extended before they expire at the end of this year.

Sen. Chuck Schumer leads Democrats amid government shutdown, demanding extension of Obamacare support. (Reuters)

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Thune stressed at the White House on Tuesday that Senate Republicans are united in their war of attrition strategy to keep pushing the same bill over and over again.

“I mean they want $1.5 trillion in new spending. They want free health care for people who are not citizens of this country. This is just unacceptable. It doesn’t pass the Senate. It won’t pass the House. The president won’t sign it into law,” Thune said.

Read Hawely’s Our Farmers Fund Act below (app users click here)

Read Hawley’s Keep SNAP Funded Act below (app users click here)

Fox News’ Greg Norman contributed to this report.