Summary
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has put forward a new bill aiming to change how certain people use SNAP benefits to buy meals. The legislation, called the McSCUSE ME Act, wants to limit spending to healthier prepared food options instead of fast food. The bill will now be presented to the Senate for consideration.
Key Facts
- Senator Joni Ernst introduced the McSCUSE ME Act to reform the SNAP program.
- SNAP helps over 42 million low- and no-income Americans with food purchases.
- The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) under SNAP allows certain participants like the elderly, disabled, and homeless to buy prepared meals.
- Nine states currently use RMP: Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia. Oregon is testing it.
- Over the last two years, $524 million was spent on RMP meals, mostly on fast food.
- California was the highest spender with $475 million.
- The new bill proposes that only grocery stores and places offering healthy prepared foods can accept SNAP benefits, excluding fast food chains.
- The bill also calls for an annual report on RMP costs and vendor participation.
