Republican Congressmen Introduce Bills To Prohibit Junk Food Purchases With SNAP Benefits

Several Republican Congressmen have introduced bills to prohibit the purchase of some or all junk foods with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.  SNAP is a $ 100 billion program which buys about $ 10 billion in soda pop and $ 13 billion in other snack type foods.

Despite all the attention to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) - the signature issue of HHS nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. - SNAP is actually administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  USDA is under the jurisdiction of the Senate Agriculture Committee, which was lead in the 118th Congress by former Michigan Senator Stabenow:

https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-propose-major-snap-reform-junk-food-2019638

Republicans Propose Major SNAP Reform: What to Know
Republican Calls For SNAP Benefits To Be 'Reined In'
By Aliss Higham - January 23, 2025

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit recipients could soon be barred from purchasing junk food if a new bill is successful in Congress.

Why It Matters

SNAP benefits, also commonly known as "food stamps," are administered nationwide to low and no-income households that would otherwise struggle to purchase groceries at participating retailers. In 2023, the program served an average of 42.1 million people per month, or 12.6 percent of U.S. residents.

What To Know

Republican Representative Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma has announced a bill—the Healthy SNAP Act—that would exclude "soft drinks, candy, ice cream and prepared desserts" from being purchased using SNAP benefits.

In a press release issued on January 16, Brecheen said more than 20 percent of all federal SNAP spending "goes towards the purchase of junk foods and sugary drinks," with sugary drinks alone make up 10 percent. He also said around 75 percent of adults and around 33 percent of children in the United States are currently overweight or obese.

Soda

As it currently stands, SNAP benefits are eligible to buy a variety of foods, including fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy products, breads and cereals, as well as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages. It cannot be used to buy pre-prepared hot foods, alcohol and non-food items like household cleaning products.

Several other House Republicans are sponsoring the bill: Andy Biggs (Arizona), Michael Cloud (Texas), Paul Gosar (Arizona), Glenn Grothman (Wisconsin), Dan Meuser (Pennsylvania), Mary Miller (Illinois) and David Schweikert (Arizona).

Taking unhealthy foods off the roster of foods benefit recipients can buy using Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards has long been a priority of some Republican lawmakers, and the push has been renewed since President Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

Prior to Trump's inauguration on Monday, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and USDA Secretary-designate Brooke Rollins, calling for the government agencies to take action against SNAP benefits being allowed for purchase of "junk food," including "soda, unhealthy snacks, candy and dessert."

The prohibition of "non-food items like household cleaning products" purchases with SNAP benefits is not true.  This is how & why Tide laundry detergent became the secondary currency within America's inner cities.

The snack food makers have resisted mightily. Congressman Keith Self has since introduced a bill to prohibit just SNAP purchases of soda, but not snack foods:

https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-keith-self-introduces-fizz-no-act-improve-public-health-and-reduce

Congressman Keith Self Introduces the FIZZ-NO Act to Improve Public Health and Reduce Taxpayer Costs
January 28, 2025
Press Release

Congressman Keith Self introduced the Funding is Zero for Zero Nutrition Options (FIZZ-NO) Act in an effort to improve public health and reduce taxpayer costs by eliminating the purchase of sugary carbonated beverages through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“SNAP was originally created to help the poorest Americans access nutritious food,” said Congressman Self. “Allowing taxpayer dollars to subsidize sugary sodas, which offer zero nutritional value and contribute to costly health conditions, is counterproductive. The FIZZ-NO Act is a common-sense solution to strengthen public health and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.”

Sugary carbonated beverages are a leading source of added sugars in the American diet, contributing significantly to obesity and other related health conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 40% of adults and 19% of children in the United States are considered obese. The consumption of sugary beverages has been directly linked to increased risks of diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic health issues. It is estimated that these conditions cost our healthcare system $190 billion annually, much of which is absorbed by Medicaid, which is shouldered by the taxpayer.