Supported legislation to promote nutrition security through the 2024 Farm Bill

The 2024 Farm Bill is a critical opportunity for Congress to address long-standing nutritional inequities, strengthen the food system infrastructure, and lower the burden of healthcare costs for millions of Americans. 

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CSPI’s top priorities

Investing in research to strengthen food and nutrition security 

SNAP Nutrition Security Act of 2023

Establishes a metric for measuring and reporting the impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation on nutrition security and provides regular reports on product types typically purchased. This bill does not change or restrict what SNAP participants can buy.

  • S.2326 – Sponsored by Sen. Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Rubio (R-FL)
  • H.R.4909 – Sponsored by Rep. Gottheimer (D-NJ-05) and Rep. Chavex-DeRemer (R-OR-05) 

Increase purchasing power for nutritious foods

Opt for Health with SNAP, Close the Fruit and Vegetable Gap Act of 2023

Increases overall funding for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) to $3.5 billion over five years and eliminates the grantee match requirement.

  • S.2015 – Sponsored by Sen. Booker (D-NJ)  
  • H.R.4149 – Sponsored by Rep. Blunt Rochester (D-DE-At Large) 

GusNIP Improvement Act of 2023

Increases GusNIP funding to $150 million per year and reduces or eliminates the grantee match requirement.

  • S.2577 – Sponsored by Sen. Hirono (D-HI)  

GusNIP Expansion Act of 2023

Decreases grantee match requirement to 20% and creates cooperative agreements between federal and state agencies to scale incentive programs.

  • H.R.4856 – Sponsored by Rep. Crawford (R-AR-01) and Rep. Kildee (D-MI-08) 

CSPI also supports strengthening nutrition security through:

Increasing SNAP Purchasing Power

Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2023

Requires that SNAP benefits be calculated using the Low-Cost Food Plan.  

  • S.1336 – Sponsored by Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY)  
  • H.R.3037 – Sponsored by Rep. Adams (D-NC-12) 

Expanding SNAP Utilization

Hot Foods Act of 2023

Expands SNAP to permit the use of benefits to purchase hot food products ready for immediate consumption.

  • S.2258 – Sponsored by Sen. Bennet (D-CO)  
  • H.R.3519 – Sponsored by Rep. Meng (D-NY-06)

SNAP Tribal Food Sovereignty Act of 2023

Allows for USDA to enter into self-determination contracts with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to carry out SNAP.

  • S.2912 – Sponsored by Sen. Smith (D-MN)  
  • H.R.5970 – Sponsored by Rep. Neguse (D-CO-02) 

Expanding SNAP Eligibility

Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2023

Repeals certain SNAP work requirements.

  • S.2435 – Sponsored by Sen. Welch (D-NY)  
  • H.R.1510 – Sponsored by Rep. Lee (D-CA-12)

Military Family Nutrition Access Act of 2023

Excludes military housing allowances from income when determining SNAP eligibility.

  • S.497 – Sponsored by Sen. Duckworth (D-IL)  
  • H.R.1763 – Sponsored by Rep. Panetta (D-CA-19)

Enhance Access to SNAP (EATS) Act of 2023

Expands SNAP eligibility for certain college students.

  • S.1488 – Sponsored by Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY)  
  • H.R.3183 – Sponsored by Rep. Gomez (D-CA-34)

Lifting Immigrant Families Through Benefits Access Restoration (LIFT the BAR) Act of 2023

Repeals the five-year SNAP eligibility waiting period for lawfully present noncitizens.

  • S.2038 – Sponsored by Sen. Hirono (D-HI)  
  • H.R.4170 – Sponsored by Rep. Jayapal (D-WA-07)

Re-Entry Support Through Opportunities for Resources and Essentials (RESTORE) Act of 2023

Allows for individuals with previous felony drug offenses to receive SNAP benefits.

  • S.1753 – Sponsored by Sen. Booker (D-NJ)  
  • H.R.3479 – Sponsored by Rep. Cohen (D-TN-09)

Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2023

Expands eligibility for federal nutrition programs for older adults and adults with disabilities.

  • S.1036 – Sponsored by Sen. Casey (D-PA)  
  • H.R.3474 – Sponsored by Rep. Bonamici (D-OR-01)

Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act of 2023

Allows the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to transition from the NAP block grant to SNAP.

  • S.949 – Sponsored by Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY)  
  • H.R.253 – Sponsored by Rescom. González-Colón (R-PR-At Large)

Feed Hungry Veterans Act of 2023

Expands SNAP eligibility for disabled veterans.

  • H.R.3698 – Sponsored by Rep. Hayes (D-CT-05) 

Increasing nutrition security within the charitable food system

Expanding Access to (EAT) Local Foods Act

Creates a permanent grant program for state and tribal governments to procure local foods for distribution to hunger relief programs.

  • S.3982 – Sponsored by Sen. Reed (D-RI)

Expanding Access to (EAT) Healthy Foods From Local Farmers Act

Provide federal funding to states for the purchase of locally grown food from small/beginning/underserved agricultural producers or entities to be distributed to emergency feeding organizations.

  • H.R.4185 – Sponsored by Rep. Schrier (D-WA-08) 

For more than 50 years, CSPI has been an influential force in the fight for a better food system. CSPI leverages our unique expertise to support passing policies that increase access to nutritious food, support healthy food and beverage choices, and ensure a healthy diet for all consumers.

For more information, please contact the Center for Science in the Public Interest at policy@cspinet.org.

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