DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA et al v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE et al

Filing 3

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (Attachments: #1 Declaration STEVEN BANKS, #2 Declaration EDWARD BOLEN, #3 Declaration TIKKI BROWN, #4 Declaration CATHERINE BUHRIG, #5 Declaration ALEXIS CARMEN FERNANDEZ, #6 Declaration STEVE H. FISHER, #7 Declaration HOLLY FREISHTAT, #8 Declaration JEFFREY GASKELL, #9 Declaration DEIDRE S. GIFFORD, #10 Declaration HEATHER HARTLINE-GRAFTON, #11 Declaration DANIEL R. HAUN, #12 Declaration KATHLEEN KONOPKA, #13 Declaration ED LAZERE, #14 Declaration BRITTANY MANGINI, #15 Declaration VICTORIA NEGUS, #16 Declaration ELISA NEIRA, #17 Declaration S. DUKE STOREN, #18 Declaration DAWN M. SWEENEY, #19 Declaration LAURA ZEILINGER, #20 Text of Proposed Order)(Konopka, Kathleen). Added MOTION to Stay on 1/24/2020 (znmw).

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, et al.
Plaintiffs,
Case No. 1:20-cv-00119

V.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE; GEORGE ERVIN
PERDUE III, in his official capacity as
Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, and UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA,
Defendants.
DECLARATION OF DAWN M. SWEENEY IN SUPPORT OF
PLAINTIFFS' MOl'l(!}l�rFcoR l'�FJf,IMJNA.RYJ.Thl�c::lJlQN
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, I, Dawn M. Sweeney, declare and state as follows:
1.
I am over the age of eighteen (18) years, competent to testify to the matters
contained herein, and testify based on my personal knowledge and information.
2.
I am the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) State Administrator
for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). I have worked to
provide resources for underserved populations throughout my career. Prior to my position as
SNAP State Administrator, I served as the Employment and Training Policy Specialist for SNAP
and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs. I also serve as a resource to
the MDHHS director and his administration regarding streamlining and improving services to
MDHHS clients and Michigan residents in need.
3.
I am aware that the federal government recently issued a final rule "Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program: Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents" [84
Fed Reg 66782] ("the Rule"). Under prior authority, able-bodied adults without dependents
(ABAWDs) may only receive three months of benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) unless they fulfill certain work requirements. However, states,
including Michigan, with areas of high unemployment may apply for waivers of this time limit.
The new final Rule eliminates or restricts many of the criteria upon which states can rely when
applying for a waiver of the ABAWD time limit. I have reviewed the Rule and am aware of its
direct implications on the administration of the SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp
Program, within Michigan. I understand that this lawsuit challenges the Rule.

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