On Monday, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), along with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and Zach Nunn (R-IA), reintroduced the bipartisan Hot Foods Act, which would permanently allow the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to cover hot food purchases. The legislation was reintroduced with 78 original co-sponsors in the House and 10 original co-sponsors in the Senate.
Currently, SNAP contains a provision that limits purchases to food that needs to be prepared at home before it is consumed. The Hot Foods Act would remove this prohibition and allow SNAP recipients to use their benefits to buy hot foods, like rotisserie chickens, hot sandwiches, soups and more.
“How Americans shop and eat has changed dramatically over the past 50 years, but SNAP policy hasn’t kept up with the times. The Hot Foods Act is a commonsense solution that gives low-income families the same flexibility that other consumers enjoy when purchasing meals,” said Henry Armour, president and CEO of NACS. “Allowing SNAP recipients to buy hot, prepared foods—like a rotisserie chicken or hot sandwich—means greater convenience, more nutritious food options and simplified compliance for SNAP retailers. We applaud Reps. Meng, Fitzpatrick, Garbarino, Hayes and Nunn and Senator Bennet for their leadership and urge Congress to pass this much-needed legislation.”
“SNAP is one of the most effective tools for reducing food insecurity and combating poverty. It’s past time that Congress cuts unnecessary red tape in the program that prevents Americans from using their SNAP benefits to buy prepared and hot foods to feed their families,” said Sen. Bennet. “This bill will make it easier for working families, single parents, people with disabilities and seniors to put nutritious food on the table.”
According to the press release, nearly 70% of the more than 42 million SNAP participants are children, elderly or those with disabilities.
“Millions of American families rely on SNAP daily to put food on the table. It simply doesn’t make sense to restrict them from using their benefits to buy hot meals while allowing them to buy the exact same type of meal cold or frozen,” said Rep. Meng. “The Hot Foods Act removes this dated rule preventing people from purchasing hot foods with SNAP, giving flexibility to working parents, people with disabilities, and the many hard-working Americans who need to put food on the table every day. I am proud to work across the aisle to make this commonsense change.”
Not only are convenience stores vital for customers who are SNAP recipients, they also provide access to nutritional and better-for-options for low income Americans. C-stores are often the only retail locations that are easily accessible by walking or public transportation, or the only locations with extended or 24/7 hours of operation.
Read more on why NACS supports Hot Foods Act, and how you can ask your member of Congress to pass this important legislation.