Disagreement over SNAP program visible in latest Senate Ag hearing

As Congress moves forward with consideration of the 2023 Farm Bill, nutrition policy is taking center stage. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program that provides individuals and/or families below a certain income level funds necessary to purchase food to protect against food insecurity.  It accounted for ~76% of funding in the 2018 Farm Bill and is expected to account for 80% of funding in the next Farm Bill.  Funds are administered to recipients on a special debit card, and cannot be used on alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicines, and any non-food items.  In February 2023, COVID-19 emergency allotments ended, which left many Democrats in congress to call for an expansion of SNAP benefits to meet COVID-related levels.  This was in combination to general calls for increasing benefits overall.  Senate Republicans in these latest hearings stressed their support for the SNAP program, but also signaled how much the program costs.  House Republican leadership included stricter work requirements for SNAP recipients as part of the recently passed debt ceiling legislation.  Senate Democrats have maintained strong opposition to the House bill, including the SNAP work provisions.  Nutrition policy will remain one of the more contentious issues for Congress as the Farm Bill process moves forward.