Bill Text: HI SCR187 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urging The National Institute Of Food And Agriculture Of The United States Department Of Agriculture To Issue Additional Funding For The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program To Provide Matching Funds For The Expansion Of The State Double Up Food Bucks Program To All Approved Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Retail Outlets Throughout The State.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-04-11 - Referred to AGR, referral sheet 28 [SCR187 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2023-SCR187-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
187 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
URGING THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ISSUE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE GUS SCHUMACHER NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE STATE DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS PROGRAM TO ALL APPROVED SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM RETAIL OUTLETS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
WHEREAS, the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is an integral part of a healthy diet and central to the prevention of obesity and chronic disease; and
WHEREAS, every community should have access to fresh and healthy dietary options, but the high cost of fresh produce often makes that difficult; and
WHEREAS, participants in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) struggle to afford healthy food; and
WHEREAS, Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, created the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program, also known as the DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks Program; and
WHEREAS, the Double Up Food Bucks Program provides a dollar-for-dollar match to SNAP beneficiaries who purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables at participating farmers' markets, grocery stores, food hubs, and community-supported agriculture projects; and
WHEREAS, through the Double Up Food Bucks Program, low-income SNAP households are able to afford more healthy local produce, local farmers increase their sales to food retailers, and more federal SNAP dollars remain in circulation in Hawaii's economy; and
WHEREAS, in 2020 and 2021, participating food retailers issued a total of $978,467 and $1,662,900, respectively, of discounts through the Double Up Food Bucks Program to SNAP shoppers; and
WHEREAS, by the end of 2021, the Double Up Food Bucks Program was available at fifty-seven food retailers across ninety-eight market sites and pick-up locations statewide; and
WHEREAS, the Double Up Food Bucks Program seeks to expand to retailers in rural areas and assist more low-income SNAP beneficiaries struggling with economic hardship and food insecurity; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the House of Representatives concurring, that the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture is urged to issue additional funding for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to provide matching funds for the expansion of the state Double Up Food Bucks Program to all approved Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program retail outlets throughout the State; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Agriculture, members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, Governor, and Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Double Up Food Bucks Program; Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program; Funding
