Southwest Montana News

Today, Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) introduced the Ensuring Health in SNAP Act of 2024. The bill aims to allow states to ban the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for purchasing soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts such as cakes, pies, cookies, and similar products. States like New York, Minnesota, and Maine have previously attempted to implement these reforms but were denied by the USDA.

“The American diet is notoriously known as one of the worst in the world,” said Rep. Rosendale. “My legislation will empower states to encourage a healthy diet for those that receive SNAP and reduce life-threatening eating habits which can lead to chronic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. If states want to incentivize healthier behavior, they should be able to set their own policies, not be forced to follow shortsighted orders from USDA bureaucrats.”

Rep. Bob Good (VA-05) expressed his support: “The original purpose of SNAP was to act as a temporary safety net for needy families, not to subsidize junk food purchases. I applaud my friend and Freedom Caucus colleague Rep. Rosendale for his leadership on the Ensuring Health in SNAP Act. This legislation will return power back to states seeking to ensure SNAP dollars are used only for essential groceries.”

Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05) also commented: “Our nation is rapidly approaching $35 trillion in debt, but the federal government continues recklessly funding welfare programs that are abused. Rep. Rosendale's bill rightly hands power back to the States and moves us one step closer to the decentralization of government our forefathers intended.”

Rep. Josh Brecheen (OK-02) added: “States need to be given the opportunity to stop our taxpayer dollars from being spent on junk foods that provide no nutritional value and contribute to America’s obesity epidemic. I applaud Congressman Rosendale for introducing this legislation that will empower states to protect our taxpayer dollars and in the long run reduce medical costs associated with obesity.”

Matthew Dickerson, Director of Budget Policy at the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), stated: “Food stamp allotments are often spent on junk food, such as soft drinks, candy, and other snacks. The Ensuring Health in SNAP Act of 2024 would help ensure better outcomes for families by allowing states to require Food Stamp benefits be directed towards healthier options.”

Maggie Harrell, Director of Federal Affairs for the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA), remarked: “The Ensuring Health in SNAP Act would give states more control over their food stamp programs and help ensure taxpayer resources focus on building up healthy families for a healthy future. Over the years, the federal government has wrestled too much control away from states’ ability to administer welfare programs. Rep. Rosendale deserves tremendous credit for working to hand power back to states to run healthier, more responsible programs.”