HLS 24RS-1862 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 115
BY REPRESENTATIVE ROMERO
SNAP/FOOD STAMPS: Directs the Department of Children and Family Services to seek
a waiver from the federal government to limit access to unhealthy foods
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To direct the Department of Children and Family Services to seek a rule waiver from the
3 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to remove unhealthy foods from
4 the list of approved foods that may be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition
5 Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
6 WHEREAS, the USDA allows unhealthy, high fat foods to be purchased with SNAP
7benefits contributing to the unhealthy lifestyle of our most vulnerable population; and
8 WHEREAS, in Louisiana, approximately forty percent of adults and twenty percent
9of students in grades nine through twelve are considered obese; and
10 WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that obesity is
11associated with at least thirteen different types of cancer which make up forty percent of all
12cancers diagnosed; and
13 WHEREAS, children with obesity are more likely to have obesity as adults due to
14patterns of behavior learned at a young age; and
15 WHEREAS, adults with obesity have a higher risk of developing life-threatening
16illnesses such as heart disease, type-II diabetes, and cancer; and
17 WHEREAS, in 2019, annual obesity-related medical care costs in the United States
18were estimated to be nearly one hundred seventy-three billion dollars; and
19 WHEREAS, forty percent of all United States households do not live within one mile
20of healthy food retailers; and
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HCR NO. 115
1 WHEREAS, Louisiana has implemented Greaux the Good, a program that allows
2SNAP benefit recipients to receive a dollar-for-dollar match on their SNAP benefits, to
3encourage families to buy more fruits and vegetables while supporting small and local food
4producers; and
5 WHEREAS, in 2023, an average of nearly forty-three thousand individuals
6participated in the SNAP program nationwide at a cost of nearly one hundred thirteen billion
7dollars; and
8 WHEREAS, SNAP was established by federal law to be a cooperative endeavor
9between a state and the federal government where the program is administered by the state
10and financed by the federal government; and
11 WHEREAS, in Louisiana, SNAP is administered by the Department of Children and
12Family Services; and
13 WHEREAS, the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 defines "food" for the purposes of
14SNAP as any food or food product for home consumption except alcoholic beverages,
15tobacco, or hot foods ready for immediate consumption; and
16 WHEREAS, the USDA interprets the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow SNAP
17benefit recipients to purchase candy, cakes, potato chips, and other unhealthy foods; and
18 WHEREAS, due to the presence of federal law, the Department of Children and
19Family Services must seek approval from the federal government in the form of a waiver in
20order to alter the types of food that may be purchased with SNAP benefits.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
22direct the Department of Children and Family Services to seek a rule waiver from the United
23States Department of Agriculture to remove unhealthy foods from the list of approved foods
24that may be purchased with SNAP benefits.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Children and Family Services
26shall work with medical professionals and nutrition experts to determine which foods to
27remove from the list of approved foods to promote the health of children and families
28receiving SNAP benefits.
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HCR NO. 115
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Children and Family Services
2shall present the rule waiver to the House and Senate committees on health and welfare prior
3to submitting the rule waiver the United States Department of Agriculture.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
5governor and the secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services.
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)]
HCR 115 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Romero
Directs the Department of Children and Family Services to seek a rule waiver from the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to remove unhealthy foods from the list
of approved foods that may be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) benefits.
Requires the Department of Children and Family Service to present the rule waiver to the
House and Senate health and welfare committees.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Require the Department of Children and Family Service to present the rule
waiver to the House and Senate health and welfare committees.
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