House Committee Holds Hearing on SNAP Purchases

On February 16, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing, “Pros and Cons of Restricting SNAP Purchases.” The hearing examined the implications of additional restrictions placed on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases, specifically the purchase of sweetened beverages, sweets, and salty snacks. In addition, the hearing noted that “women, in particular, are more likely to become economically self-sufficient due to childhood access to SNAP benefits.”

The following witnesses testified:

• Angela Rachidi, research fellow, American Enterprise Institute;
• Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, director, The Hamilton Project, senior fellow, The Brookings Institution;
• Leslie Sarasin, CEO, Food Marketing Institute;
• John Weidman, deputy executive director, The Food Trust; and
• Brian Wansink, director, Cornell University Food and Brand Lab.