Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — Republicans on the Iowa House Health and Human Services Committee have voted to limit what Iowans using government SNAP benefits may buy.
The bill originally had a permitted list of groceries like “real” eggs, meat, milk, bread, pasta, peanut butter, and nuts. Republican Representative Carter Nordman of Adel has proposed adjusting the bill, to limit SNAP purchases to “healthy foods.”
The bill would provide an additional one million dollars to the state’s “Double Up Food Bucks” program, which helps reduce the price of fresh fruit and vegetable purchases made with SNAP benefits. Democrats on the committee voted against the bill. Representative Tracy Ehlert of Cedar Rapids says as a single mom, she relied on SNAP benefits to feed her children while she was getting a college degree.
If the bill becomes law, state officials would have to get a federal waiver to implement changes in what SNAP benefits may purchase.
