Washington (Nexstar) – House Republicans boost a proposal to restrict the recipient of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to exploit services to buy junk food.
The efforts used by the Trump administration aim to reduce state expenditure and to promote healthier eating habits.
“We have a problem of obesity and have to look at all of this while we are reorganizing the government,” said Brooke Rollins, Agricultural Secretary of the US Agriculture.
Rollins argues that the initiative fulfills a campaign promise to improve public health and at the same time contains state waste.
“Why should a taxpayer pay for small children for cokes?” added it.
The proposal, originally introduced by Rep. Josh (R-OKLA), wins the Republican on the Capitol Hill. It prohibits options such as ice cream, soda, sweets and some desserts.
According to the crushing, more than 20% of all Federal Snap expenditure for the purchase of junk foods and sugary drinks. He says that sugar -containing drinks alone make up 10%.
“I don’t think it is inappropriate,” said Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Who supports recent restrictions.
The guest pointed out that SNAP advantages already exclude alcohol and tobacco purchases.
However, the Democrats are against the measure and argue that they could disproportionately damage them with restricted access to hearty foods.
“According to the secretary Rollins, a mother cannot buy a birthday cake for her child with snap advantages,” said Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.).
Hayes criticized the plan and said that he would not consider families who are faced with nutritional uncertainty.
“If you live in an animal shelter, if you have no sufficient cooking options, your advantages are not good for you,” said Hayes. “If you do not have a grocery store in your community that has all these options and options, your advantages are not good for you. Secretary Rollins is looking for no real solutions for this problem.”
If enough republicans gather behind the proposal, the restrictions in a wider GOP calculation could be included, which is expected to reach the president’s desk this spring.
