Sarah Huckabee Sanders Suggests Changes to SNAP Benefits

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has reached out to the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with a suggestion to change what foods can be bought with SNAP benefits, which many people know as food stamps. 

In Arkansas, 8.1 percent of the population uses SNAP benefits, according to USDA data. In her letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA, Sanders argued that SNAP should not cover "junk food" like soda, unhealthy snacks, candy, and desserts. 

She pointed out that these items make up nearly 23 percent, or $25 billion, of all SNAP purchases. Sanders believes that by allowing SNAP to be used for such items, the program is contributing to serious health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease among Americans.

Check out: How to Make Healthy Choices with Your SNAP Benefits

Sanders wants SNAP benefits to be used for healthier food choices instead, which would also support local Arkansas farmers by promoting the purchase of Arkansas-grown products like poultry, eggs, beef, pecans, and strawberries. 

She plans to ask for a special permission, known as a waiver, so these changes can be applied in Arkansas. This waiver would give the state more control over how SNAP can be used.

There has been a variety of responses to Sanders' proposal. Some organizations, like Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, warn that many low-income residents live in areas with limited food options, known as food deserts. 

They argue that strict rules on SNAP could make it harder for these families to buy what is available and affordable to them. Andrew Grobmyer of the Agricultural Council of Arkansas expressed that the conversation about making nutritious options more available to SNAP recipients, including Arkansas-grown foods like rice, is important and timely, especially with upcoming discussions on the farm bill in Congress.

The idea of using waivers to adapt SNAP rules isn't new and was especially popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. These waivers allowed for more flexibility, like easing application procedures, permitting online grocery shopping, and lifting time limits on receiving benefits.

However, there hasn't been a state yet that has used a waiver to restrict SNAP based on the nutritional value of foods.

In summary, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is pushing for changes to the SNAP program in Arkansas to encourage healthier eating habits and support local agriculture, sparking a conversation on the balance between dietary health and the availability of food choices for low-income families.

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