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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 150
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS
HEALTH: Directs the Dept. of Social Services to assess efforts to date in La. to promote
healthy food choices among recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) benefits
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To direct the Department of Social Services to assess efforts to date in Louisiana to promote2
healthy food choices among recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance3
Program (SNAP) benefits, and to collaborate with certain stakeholders to develop a4
report to the House and Senate committees on health and welfare addressing findings5
and recommendations for enhancing the nutrition and health of SNAP participants.6
WHEREAS, the incidence of obesity and overweight have reached epidemic7
proportions in this state; and8
WHEREAS, nationally, Louisiana has the eighth-highest rate of adult obesity and9
seventh-highest rate of overweight and obese youths ages ten to seventeen; and10
WHEREAS, from 1990 to 2008 the obesity rate among the general population of this11
state increased from twelve and three tenths percent to thirty and seven tenths percent,12
ranking Louisiana fiftieth in the nation in this statistic as documented in the 2008 United13
Health Foundation "America's Health Rankings" study; and14
WHEREAS, obesity and overweight are associated with increased risk for costly15
chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and some cancers;16
and17
WHEREAS, in "Louisiana's Report Card on Physical Activity and Health for18
Children and Youth" of 2009, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center gave this state19 HLS 10RS-3078 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 150
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a grade of "D" for the overall health status of children and a grade of "F" for the prevalence1
of overweight and obese children; and2
WHEREAS, many leading researchers believe that childhood obesity is fast3
becoming the greatest public health challenge in America; and4
WHEREAS, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) of the United5
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was formerly known as the Food Stamp Program6
and remains the nation's major source of food and nutrition support for low-income families,7
helping over fifteen million households to buy food each month and helping to feed over8
thirty-five million Americans each month; and9
WHEREAS, SNAP is administered in Louisiana by the Department of Social10
Services (DSS) and will deliver approximately one billion two hundred million dollars in11
benefits to citizens of this state in the current fiscal year; and12
WHEREAS, Louisiana is projected to spend approximately sixty million dollars in13
state funds on the administration of SNAP in the current fiscal year; and14
WHEREAS, in an average month, over three hundred twenty-three thousand15
households and over seven hundred seventy thousand persons in Louisiana receive SNAP16
benefits; and17
WHEREAS, SNAP benefits may not be used to purchase nonfood items, alcohol, or18
tobacco; and19
WHEREAS, except for foods which are hot at the point of sale, SNAP benefits may20
be used to purchase all foods and nonalcoholic beverages intended to be consumed at home,21
including items which are high in unhealthy fats, sugars, sodium, and artificial ingredients22
and which have little nutritional value; and23
WHEREAS, low-income Louisiana families who depend on SNAP for basic support24
are especially vulnerable to poor health outcomes; and25
WHEREAS, poor health diminishes the potential of many of this state's low-income26
children, negatively affects the overall quality of life in this state, and represents a threat to27
the financial viability of this state due to the upward spiral of health care costs associated28
with treating conditions which could have been prevented through better childhood nutrition;29
and30 HLS 10RS-3078 ENGROSSED
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WHEREAS, in May 2009, elected and appointed Louisiana officials jointly1
transmitted correspondence to the secretary of the USDA urging that agency to adopt policy2
changes in SNAP which would improve the health of those dependent on this program; and3
WHEREAS, many concerned citizens and leaders in Louisiana possess a4
longstanding and sincere commitment to advancing any effort which would help this state5
to dramatically improve the health of its most vulnerable populations.6
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby7
direct the Department of Social Services to conduct a study which assesses efforts8
undertaken to date in Louisiana to promote healthy food choices among recipients of9
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DSS shall engage, collaborate with, and obtain11
information and perspective from stakeholders in developing the study. Such stakeholders12
shall include but not be limited to a representative of the Pennington Biomedical Research13
Center and a representative of the Louisiana Beverage Association.14
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DSS shall produce a report from this study effort15
which shall include recommendations for improvement and broader support of effective16
practices in promoting the purchase of healthy foods among SNAP recipients.17
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that on or before September 1, 2010, DSS shall18
submit the report to the House Committee on Health and Welfare and the Senate Committee19
on Health and Welfare.20
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted21
to the House Committee on Health and Welfare and the Senate Committee on Health and22
Welfare.23
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Williams HCR No. 150
Directs DSS to assess efforts to date in La. to promote healthy food choices among recipients
of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. HLS 10RS-3078 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 150
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Directs DSS to collaborate with stakeholders in conducting the study. Such stakeholders
shall include but not be limited to a representative of the Pennington Biomedical Research
Center and a representative of the La. Beverage Association.
Directs DSS to produce a report from this study which shall include recommendations for
improvement and wider support of effective practices in promoting the purchase of healthy
foods among SNAP recipients.
Directs DSS to submit the report to the House and Senate health and welfare committees by
Sept. 1, 2010.