by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern
Over 40 million Americans, equal to about 12.5 percent of the population, receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP possesses a key role in the fight against food insecurity in the United States and is the largest anti-hunger initiative in the country, both in terms of budget and number of individuals impacted. In Ohio, nearly 1.5 million individuals receive SNAP benefits.
Two upcoming deadlines for Congress present potential challenges to the immediate and long-term future of SNAP in its ability to reduce food insecurity in Ohio and nationally. On September 30, 2023, the 2018 farm bill expired, but most programs are still funded through the 2023 calendar year. On January 1, 2024, this funding will expire, meaning a new farm bill is needed by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the November 17th deadline for a government shutdown is fast-approaching, and unless Congress passes a continuing resolution or the 12 annual appropriations bills by then, the federal government will shut down. A shutdown threatens SNAP and numerous other public programs, including WIC.
2023 Farm Bill
Long passed is the original September 30th deadline for passage of the 2023 farm bill by lawmakers in Washington.
As the end of the calendar year approaches, Congress faces three options:
1. Temporarily extend the existing farm bill
2. Pass a new farm bill for the next five years
3. Allow the farm bill to remain expired
Every five years Congress passes a new farm bill which includes provisions for important social services including SNAP. The farm bill also encompasses crop insurance, commodity support, and conservation. The general consensus among D.C. insiders is the passage of a new farm bill before January 1, 2024, is highly unlikely, and the most likely outcome will be a temporary extension of the 2018 bill while negotiations continue. Allowing the farm bill to remain expired, while possible, is an unlikely outcome due to the political and policy consequences inaction would have. Temporary extension of the farm bill has historical precedence, having been done most recently in 2007 and 2012.
Disagreement over the direction of a new farm bill stems from proposed changes to the “nutrition title” of the bill. The nutrition title is the largest portion of the 2018 farm bill, which comprises around 80 percent of spending and includes operating language for programs including SNAP. In the House of Representatives, differing views regarding SNAP between Democrats, Moderate Republicans, and the more hardline Freedom Caucus presents a major roadblock in passing an updated bill. The farm bill plays a large role in determining how SNAP runs and the qualifications individuals must meet to obtain benefits, a factor to which there is widespread disagreement in Washington. All three proceeding options for Congress surrounding the farm bill impact the future direction of SNAP and accessibility for individuals on the margins of meeting program eligibility.
Government Shutdown
Since SNAP is funded through the appropriations process, the looming government shutdown poses a major threat for families receiving food assistance, despite existing contingency plans. In the event of a government shutdown later this month, funding temporarily continues for SNAP, meaning enrolled individuals still receive their benefits for the month of December. A shutdown lasting beyond December creates deep uncertainty for the short-term future of SNAP, as states may be asked to pay for SNAP without a guarantee of any federal reimbursement once the government shutdown ends. If a state is unwilling to foot the bill, residents lose SNAP benefits for as long as the government remains in a shutdown.
When a government shutdown appeared possible in September, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack noted the immediate consequences for another nutrition and healthcare program, WIC. WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) provides healthcare and nutrition services for over six million low-income mothers and children under the age of five. In September, Secretary Vilsack warned “The vast majority of WIC participants would see an immediate reduction and elimination of those benefits, which means the nutrition assistance that's provided would not be available”.
Both a potential government shutdown and failure to pass a new farm bill impact the SNAP program and its beneficiaries, albeit in different ways. A new farm bill, depending on its language, will affect the reach of SNAP and its associated guidelines, while avoiding a government shutdown is the only way to ensure families continue receiving monthly benefits through SNAP. Additionally, a government shutdown immediately impacts the millions of women and young children who benefit from WIC. As the November 17th and December 31st deadlines approach, Congressional action is needed to ensure SNAP and WIC remain effective anti-hunger programs for families in Ohio and across the country.