With a partial government shutdown looming at the end of next week, House leaders are discussing an agreement that would provide extra nutrition assistance for new moms and young children, addressing one big sticking point in the federal funding negotiations.
But the possible deal is already facing a lot of criticism from advocates and businesses for the trade-off it would involve: a pilot program that would limit the items that food stamp participants could buy.
The potential agreement would provide more money for WIC, the food assistance program for millions of low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children that is facing a $1 billion shortfall that could cut aid to about 2 million people.
House Republicans have proposed cutting funding for the program, but soaring enrollment prompted the White House to ask for an additional $1.4 billion for fiscal year 2024 to avoid having to initiate waitlists for benefits for the first time since the late 1990s.
In exchange for more WIC support, Rep. Andy Harris, who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture, is pushing a SNAP-choice pilot initiative that would allow recipients in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to buy only nutrient-dense items that follow dietary guidelines. That would likely cut out food such as soda, candy and certain snacks – long a goal of conservatives.
“It’s no secret Dr. Harris would like to see the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) returned to what it was originally authorized in Congress to do, which is to ‘safeguard the health and well-being of the nation’s population by raising levels of nutrition among low-income households,’” Anna Adamian, spokeswoman for the Maryland Republican, told CNN, noting that negotiations are still ongoing.
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