A group of 44 House Republicans, led by Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN), Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture, sent a sign-on letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins and Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Patrick Penn urging USDA to provide greater flexibility in its proposed rule updating SNAP retailer stocking requirements.

NACS has long urged the USDA to expand the definition of “variety” under SNAP to better reflect the operational realities of convenience stores while maintaining broad food access for SNAP customers.

In the letter, sent on December 19, Members underscored the vital role that convenience stores, truck stops and other small-format retailers play in delivering food access to SNAP participants, particularly in rural and underserved communities where these stores are often the most accessible option for families, seniors and veterans.

While expressing support for the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative and its focus on improving nutrition while reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, the lawmakers raised concerns that USDA’s proposed “variety” requirements in the grains and dairy categories would create significant compliance challenges for small-format retailers, like convenience stores, who operate with limited shelf and cooler space. If finalized as written, the letter noted, the rule could force tens of thousands of stores out of the SNAP program, reducing food access for millions of households.

“Convenience stores are on the front lines of SNAP, especially in communities where other food options are limited,” said Margaret Mannion, director of government relations at NACS. “Members of Congress are right to be concerned that the proposed stocking requirements, as written, would reduce the number of SNAP access points without meaningfully improving nutrition outcomes. We encourage USDA to adopt a more flexible approach that preserves food access while supporting the small businesses that serve these communities every day.”

The Members urged USDA to adopt a more flexible, common-sense approach, similar to the framework outlined in the Trump Administration’s 2019 proposed rule, that balances nutrition goals with operational realities and preserves SNAP access points nationwide.

NACS continues to engage with USDA and congressional leaders to ensure SNAP policies protect food access while supporting the small businesses that serve communities every day.

Last month, NACS filed comments on the USDA’s proposed rule.