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How the farm bill could reignite SNAP choice fight
Story Date: 5/2/2018
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Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 5/1/18
New work requirements for able-bodied SNAP recipients have drawn the fiercest debate, but another provision in the House farm bill, H.R. 2 (115), that would track what people buy with their benefits got far less attention in committee but could still stir controversy on the House floor.
On page 284, the bill would require the USDA to collect more data on what foods are being purchased in the $70 billion nutrition program. The provision is seen by many as a committee compromise - a way to avoid the SNAP restriction language favored by some lawmakers to ban outright the purchase sugar-sweetened beverages, for instance. Instead, the bill calls for collecting data that would surely be used by some to advocate for SNAP restrictions.
Retailers don't want new red tape: "We are concerned generally about the idea of our members having to report what their SNAP customers are buying because it would be an administrative burden," said Christopher Jones vice president and counsel for the National Grocers Association. While grocers certainly aren't crazy about the House farm bill provision, the language is specifically tailored to avoid putting new reporting requirements on retailers.
Sweetener: Notably, the measure also includes language aimed at protecting retailer-level SNAP sales figures from becoming public - a potentially big win for an industry locked in litigation with The Argus Leader over disclosing such data under the Freedom of Information Act.
Bringing the debate to the floor: It is likely SNAP restrictions will be debated by the whole House when the farm bill is brought to the floor.
Rep. John J. Faso (R-N.Y), who serves on the agriculture committee, is planning to introduce an amendment that would ban "sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages" from SNAP. The measure would apply to a much narrower category of beverages (think regular Coca Cola, but not diet - and not Sunny Delight or Gatorade). Interesting side note: PepsiCo is a New York-based company. Faso has forged ahead regardless.
The odds are fizzy: It's anyone's guess how such an amendment would fare on the House floor. During the last farm bill debate, Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) brought forth a (sort of) related amendment that aimed to ramp up data collection on specific food items purchased with SNAP and have that information posted online. The measure was handily defeated 79-346. The Senate Agriculture Committee, for what it's worth, is not expected to delve into SNAP purchase issues as it works on its own farm bill.
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