People would not be able to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to buy junk food like soda, energy drinks, candy, chips, and cookies if a bill makes it through the Texas government.
Senate Bill 379 would make it easier for people to buy more types of food with SNAP funds, which used to be called food stamps.
The bill’s author, Republican State Sen. Mayes Middleton, said he put it forward to bring SNAP back to its original goal of focused on healthy, nutritious food that is important for well-being. Both Democrats and Republicans have presented similar bills in the Texas House. Rep. Richard Raymond (H.B. 3188) and Rep. Briscoe Cain (H.B. 4970) are examples of these bills.
SNAP is fully funded by the federal government, which currently lets people use the program to buy most foods but not alcohol, tobacco, or hot cooked meals.
Recently, two bills were proposed in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate that would also make it illegal to use SNAP benefits to buy junk food.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also said that he wants to limit chemicals and foods that have been highly processed.
Republicans in Texas say that S.B. 379 wants to take food and drinks that aren’t very good for you out of the government aid program.
“The stated goal of the [U.S. Department of Agriculture] SNAP program is to provide healthy food that is essential to well-being and health.” FOX 4 reports that Middleton said, “Well, junk food doesn’t fill that need.” “So having those types of foods and drinks qualified under the program is actually contrary to the entire purpose of the SNAP program, the food stamp program.”
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), another government program that helps families get food, already doesn’t pay for junk food. Instead, it focuses on giving people healthy foods and teaching them about nutrition.
FOX 4 reported that people who are against the Texas bill say that people who use SNAP should be able to choose what foods are best for their families, such as treats for their kids or medical needs like treating a blood sugar crash. Some people also say that grocery stores are hard to get to and that a lot of people on the program have to depend on convenience stores, which don’t have many healthy food options.
Monday, the full Senate of the state talked about the bill. Before it can go to the House, it has to pass the Upper Chamber.
