RICHMOND, Va. (rbs news now) — Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the launch of the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) initiative during a news conference on October 28.

The temporary state-run food program was created under Executive Order 54 to support low-income Virginians during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Youngkin said the initiative was necessary because of what he called “the dereliction of duty on the part of our federal Democrat Senators.”

“It is an extraordinary step for Virginia to provide food benefits in 7-day increments in November, but we must do so because Congressional Democrats are putting politics above people,” Youngkin said. “The Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance effort will be very similar to SNAP—but it is a complex, challenging solution. However, we must ensure our most vulnerable Virginians are not without basic nutrition.”

The governor also announced an additional $1 million in state funds will go to Virginia food banks to help offset disruptions as the new system begins in early November.

Youngkin again asked Virginia’s U.S. Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, to help end the shutdown.

“Both of Virginia’s U.S. Senators are former Virginia Governors who know our state well, and they could vote to end this shutdown right now,” Youngkin said. “While Virginians await our Senators’ action, I refuse to let hungry Virginians be used as ‘leverage’ by Congressional Democrats.”

He thanked President Donald Trump’s administration for extending WIC benefits and continuing to pay military personnel during the shutdown.

VENA will temporarily replace the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by issuing weekly benefits to current SNAP recipients until federal funding resumes.

Benefits will be distributed through existing EBT cards.

More information about VENA, including eligibility and benefit schedules, can be found on the Virginia Department of Social Services here.

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