U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) on May 18 introduced a bipartisan bill that would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to permit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to be used to purchase additional types of hot food items.
Rep. Fitzpatrick and Rep. Garbarino signed on as the top two original cosponsors of the Hot Foods Act of 2023, H.R. 3519, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and has 25 other original cosponsors.
“I am proud to partner with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in introducing the Hot Foods Act to reasonably expand food options and continue to strengthen the impact of SNAP for those who deal with food insecurity each day,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said.
If enacted, H.R. 3519 would remove an outdated provision that limits SNAP purchases to foods designed for take-home preparation and consumption, or cold prepared foods, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers, and would permit families to use SNAP benefits to purchase hot foods, such as prepared rotisserie chickens, hot sandwiches, and soups.
“Millions in the United States rely on SNAP to supplement their purchase of healthy and nutritious foods, and those families deserve greater flexibility with how they are able to utilize their benefits,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “Especially for our workers and families on-the-go, prepared foods are a good and readily available source of nutrition.”
Of the more than 42 million SNAP participants, almost 70 percent of participants are children, elderly, or those with disabilities, the summary says, noting that the proposed SNAP provision change would provide them with flexibility to supplement their nutrition and dietary needs.
“Right now, a working mom struggling to feed her family is permitted to purchase a cold sandwich for her kids using SNAP benefits but prohibited from buying soup or a rotisserie chicken to ensure they get a hot meal,” said Rep. Garbarino. “It makes little sense to continue to impose an arbitrary and outdated restriction on the use of SNAP benefits to purchase hot foods when the ability to do so could make a significant difference to so many families.”
The Food Research & Action Center, the First Focus Campaign for Children, Feeding America, Hunger Free America, the Island Harvest Food Bank, City Harvest, and the National Association of Convenience Stores, among others, endorsed the measure.
“Families throughout America rely on SNAP benefits to make sure they have enough food for their children. Restricting a working mom by only allowing her to buy a frozen rotisserie chicken, but not a hot prepared one, is nonsensical and wrong,” said Rep. Meng. “I look forward to streamlining this program for the more than millions of SNAP recipients in the United States.”