While all eyes seem to be on the second report released under the Department of Health and Human Services’ “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) program, lawmakers in Washington are now debating some specific entitlement programs and social services on the committee level. Which means, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was once again on the national stage, front and center this week before the House Agriculture Committee.
One group in the ag sector that got a shout-out in the MAHA report was dairy producers. The Commission is calling for a stop to “reduced fat” milk requirements in federal programs, allowing for greater consumer choice.
Dairy industry leaders like the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) support the move and are now calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand dairy incentives in the SNAP program.
However, that presents a challenge, considering the recently passed “Big, Beautiful Bill” imposes additional administrative costs of the SNAP program onto the States, prompting some state leaders to explore artificial intelligence as a way to offset these expenses.
But Chloe Green with the American Public Human Services Association says she and other administrators have been asking for this kind of support for years.
“So that really they can be making sure they’re spending the most time on the cases that need it the most and streamlining cases that are more straightforward, simple,” Green said. “There has been some, although limited, guidance from USDA FNS around the use of automation, citing them as major changes required, which should, in practice, mean that a state can submit a request and then it will be acknowledged and therefore approved by FNS. Although we’ve heard from several of our members that there have been a lot of delays in response from USDA, or a lot of questions that have delayed the implementation, to be able to use automation.”
Some states have a long history of making erroneous payments to SNAP recipients, and digital theft has been a big issue. They cite Connecticut, where $6 million was skimmed over two years at sale locations. To help, some House Ag committee members are asking that SNAP cards include “chips,” like most debit and credit card companies have used for years.
