Bill Text: NJ SR21 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Urges United States Department of Agriculture to authorize permanent use of SNAP benefits for online purchasing of foods.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-10-17 - Filed with Secretary of State [SR21 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2022-SR21-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 21

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2022 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  NELLIE POU

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Urges United States Department of Agriculture to authorize permanent use of SNAP benefits for online purchasing of foods.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on June 23, 2022, with amendments.

  

A Senate Resolution urging the United States Department of Agriculture to authorize permanently the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for the online purchasing of foods.

 

Whereas, The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of low-income families in order to purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency; and

Whereas, This nationwide program is federally regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pursuant to the "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.); and

Whereas, The 2014 Farm Bill mandated that the USDA conduct a pilot program to test the feasibility and implications of allowing retail food stores to accept SNAP benefits through online transactions. In April 2019, New York became the first State to launch the pilot program; and

Whereas, The USDA opened its pilot program for online grocery purchasing to New Jersey's SNAP participants, following the department's expedited efforts to introduce states into the pilot with the onset of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) public health crisis, in March 2020; and

Whereas, Currently, individuals participating in New Jersey SNAP may purchase groceries online through Amazon ¹and Instacart¹, and at participating Walmart, ¹[The Fresh Grocers] The Fresh Grocer, ALDI, BJs Wholesale Club, Food Bazaar, Price Rite, Sam's Club, Sprouts Farmers Market, Stop & Shop, Super Foodtown, Wegmans, Weis Markets¹ , and ShopRite stores; and

Whereas, ¹[According to the USDA, this pilot program is a two-year initiative, as such it is slated to expire in April of 2021] If the program is allowed to continue, SNAP participants could potentially procure healthy and nutritious foods from other online vendors and food delivery services as well, helping to mitigate the adverse health consequences that can affect those living in food deserts¹ ; and

Whereas, Enabling SNAP recipients to purchase foods online allows them to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social distancing guidelines to help slow the spread of COVID-19; and

Whereas, Despite advances in COVID-19 vaccinations, precautions to the virus such as social distancing are likely to be encouraged beyond the expiration of the SNAP online purchasing pilot program; and

Whereas, Outside of the COVID-19 pandemic, online purchasing of food also supports those SNAP recipients who may be challenged with transportation or mobility issues, ensuring that such individuals continue to have access to healthy and nutritious foods; and

Whereas, The online purchasing of food has become a widespread practice among general consumers, and it is appropriate for the same service to be made available to SNAP recipients; and

Whereas, Purchasing groceries online is critical to providing safe and vital access to healthy food for low-income households and is necessary on a permanent basis to ensure an equity for SNAP recipients; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The Senate of the State of New Jersey urges the United States Department of Agriculture to take immediate action to authorize permanently the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for online purchasing of foods.

 

     2.    Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the secretary of the Senate to the United States Secretary of Agriculture and every member of the United States Congress elected from this State.