Rep. Jimmy Panetta, who has represented California’s 19th district in the U.S. Congress since 2017, used social media on November 1, 2025, to highlight challenges facing his constituents amid a federal shutdown and paused SNAP benefits.
In a post at 16:27 UTC, Panetta wrote: “Food Banks are important resources for preventing hunger in our communities, and with SNAP benefits pausing starting today, they are essential now more than ever. To locate your local California foodbank, use the link below.”
Later that day at 18:55 UTC, he addressed healthcare concerns in his district: “People across CA-19 are seeing their healthcare costs skyrocket. Speaker Johnson must bring Congress back into session and get back to negotiating an end to this shutdown that protects healthcare and lowers costs for working families.”
At 22:06 UTC on the same day, Panetta shared a personal story from one of his constituents: “I recently had an impactful conversation with Nicole about her insurance premiums increasing significantly. As a widow and mother of two boys caught between making ends meet and having to pay more for healthcare, she’s asking for Congress to come together, negotiate an end to”
Panetta has been representing California’s 19th District since replacing Sam Farr in 2017. He was born in Washington D.C. in 1969 and currently resides in Carmel Valley. His educational background includes a BA from the University of California, Davis (1991), and a JD from Santa Clara University (1996).
The issues raised by Panetta reflect ongoing concerns over access to food assistance programs like SNAP during government shutdowns as well as rising healthcare costs—challenges impacting many Californians.
