SNAP Families Could Get an Extra $60 a Month Under New Bill
The proposal comes as federal and state officials debate how SNAP should be used to promote healthier diets.
The Fresh Bucks for Fresh Produce Act, introduced by Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal and nine other House members, aims to provide low-income households with an additional $60 per month to purchase fruits and vegetables. The legislation proposes a pilot program within the USDA that would allow participating states to provide monthly produce benefits to households earning no more than 80 percent of their area's median income.
SNAP recipients would automatically meet the income requirement. The bill directs the agriculture secretary to award grants to states to establish their own Fresh Bucks programs, with eligible purchases including fresh, frozen, or dried fruits and vegetables without added fat, sugar, or salt. The benefit would be available at various retailers, including farmers markets, independent grocery stores, and supermarkets, and would be provided on top of existing SNAP and other assistance.
Brief written by urgent.news from Newsweek's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
