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Food & Nutrition
Senate Hearings on RFK Jr. for Health Secretary
On January 29th and 30th, the Senate Committees on Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held hearings to consider Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services. While much of the questioning focused on vaccines and women’s health, Kennedy also emphasized the need to address chronic disease by improving the U.S. food supply. He argued that processed foods, chemicals, and environmental toxins are driving America’s health crisis and called for increased transparency in federal health agencies. Kennedy pledged to work collaboratively with farmers and ranchers. He voiced support for shifting toward regenerative and no-till agriculture, stating that reducing reliance on chemicals and pesticides would benefit both farmers’ health and public well-being. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who chairs the HELP Committee and also serves on the Finance Committee, expressed reservations about Kennedy's past vaccine skepticism and remains undecided on his nomination. Cassidy's vote is pivotal, as his opposition could significantly impact the confirmation outcome.
White House Federal Funding Freeze
This week, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) temporarily halted federal financial assistance, directing agencies to suspend all activities related to allocating or distributing these while OMB conducts a review of various programs, including those for disaster relief and economic aid. However, the day the freeze was set to go into effect, a judge halted it until February 3, 2025, and OMB issued a notice retracting its initial order. However, later that day, the White House press secretary clarified that the retracting of the notice did not lift the freeze on federal funding but rather revoked the specific OMB memo, emphasizing that the Trump administration's executive orders on federal funding remain active and will be strictly enforced. The lack of clarity regarding which programs will continue to operate has caused significant confusion among lawmakers and agency staff. Notably, funding for SNAP is unaffected by the freeze.
House Bill Would Prohibit Purchase of Soda With SNAP
On January 28, 2025, Representative Keith Self (R-TX) introduced the Funding is Zero for Zero Nutrition Options (FIZZ-NO) Act that would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to prohibit the use of supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits to purchase sugary carbonated beverages. According to the bill text, the FIZZ-NO Act would prohibit the purchase of sugary carbonated beverages that contain more than 1 gram of added sugar, artificial sweetener, or flavoring per serving, with SNAP benefits.
Kansas Bill Would Prohibit Purchase of Candy & Soft Drinks with SNAP
Kansas introduced a bill in the House and Senate that would seek to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Specifically, the bill would direct the Kansas Department for Children and Families to request a waiver from USDA to exclude candy and soft drinks from the definition of eligible foods that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance benefits. The legislation was introduced on January 16, and January 27, 2025, respectively. Kansas introduced a similar bill in February 2024 but it failed to pass either chamber.
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