{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://plaskett.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3646", "CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY E. PLASKETT STATEMENT ON THE VIRGIN ISLANDS RECEIVING A WAIVER TO PROVIDE SNAP BENEFITS THROUGH MAY 31, 2020", "2020-03-24", "2020", "2020-03", "Democrat", "House", "VI", "Stacey Plaskett", "P000610", "plaskett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "For Immediate Release              Contact: Michael J. McQuerry\r\nMarch 24, 2020                           202-215-8524\r\nPRESS RELEASE\r\nCONGRESSWOMAN STACEY E. PLASKETT STATEMENT ON THE VIRGIN ISLANDS RECEIVING A WAIVER TO PROVIDE SNAP BENEFITS THROUGH MAY 31, 2020\r\nWashington, D.C.  Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released this statement in regards to the Virgin Islands receiving a waiver to provide SNAP benefits through May 31, 20202:\r\nAs a Member of Congress, I recognize that Americans urgently need a coordinated, fully-funded, whole-of-government response to keep us safe from the widening coronavirus epidemic.\r\nThe Family First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) provides $1 billion in grant funding to help states and territories manage things like SNAP, student meals, seniors nutrition and food banks; and additional federal funding for Medicaid. Today I was informed that the Virgin Islands will receive a waiver until May 31, 2020.\r\nThe USDA has approved the Virgin Islands waiver requests to allow WIC program remote issuance of benefits. During COVID-19 response local agencies are closed or hours significantly disrupted and social distancing is practiced. This important waiver allows the The Virgin Islands to automatically load monthly benefits onto a WIC card. Remote issuance facilitates continued access to healthy foods and formula for enrolled children, women, mothers and babies during COVID-19 related disrupted services.\r\nLives are at stake, and we must act now to put families first. I commend the House leadership on taking the lead on this issue and for making provisions so Americans living in the territories are included.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://plaskett.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3646"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7895268499851227, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}