Bill Overview
Title: SNAP Back to Health Act of 2022
Description: This bill revises the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to prohibit the use of SNAP benefits to purchase sugary beverages. Sugary beverages are beverages that contain brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, raw sugar, and sucrose, aspartame, Splenda, acesulfame potassium, stevia, or any similar substance.
Sponsors: Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
Target Audience
Population: People who use SNAP benefits
Estimated Size: 42000000
- The bill modifies SNAP, which is used by low-income individuals and families to assist in purchasing food.
- As of 2021, over 42 million Americans use SNAP benefits.
- The restriction on purchasing sugary beverages will specifically impact individuals who currently purchase these types of beverages using SNAP.
- Sugary beverages are broadly defined in the bill, potentially affecting the purchase behavior of a significant portion of SNAP beneficiaries.
- The bill will particularly affect SNAP users who rely on these beverages as a regular part of their diet.
Reasoning
- The policy will primarily affect SNAP beneficiaries who regularly purchase sugary beverages, given the proposed restrictions.
- Since the policy targets sugary beverage purchases, people who do not purchase these beverages with SNAP benefits will not be directly affected.
- The policy's immediate impact might be seen in the substitution effects, where affected individuals might replace sugary beverages with other items.
- While this policy has a specific target, many SNAP beneficiaries may not perceive a significant decrease in their overall food options, depending on their current purchasing habits.
- Long-term health benefits might improve for those replacing sugary beverages with healthier alternatives, potentially reflected in Cantril wellbeing scores over a longer period.
- The policy budget suggests a focus on outreach, education, and perhaps subsidy programs to support healthier food choices rather than only enforcing the restriction.
Simulated Interviews
Part-time cashier (Chicago, IL)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand they want us to be healthier, but sugary drinks are convenient and cheap.
- I use SNAP to buy these drinks for my kids since they love them.
- It might push me to buy more juice, but we'll manage if it's better for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Unemployed (Jacksonville, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It doesn't bother me much since I need to avoid sugar anyway.
- Could be a good thing for folks who drink too much soda.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
College student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rely on energy drinks for long study nights, but I guess coffee works too.
- Not my favorite rule, but I get why it's happening.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired (Des Moines, IA)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I enjoy my sweet teas and don't like others telling me what I can't buy.
- I'll have to adjust, maybe start getting unsweetened ones.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Freelancer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rarely buy sugary drinks with SNAP anyway.
- I'm all for any policy that nudges us towards healthier consumption habits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Home Health Aide (Houston, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My family enjoys our weekly soda treat, and this limits us.
- We'll try to find healthier alternatives, but it's going to be hard.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired military personnel (Buffalo, NY)
Age: 63 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Doesn't affect me directly as I prefer water and tea.
- It might help others think twice about their drink choices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Fast food worker (Cleveland, OH)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sugared coffee is key for my morning, not happy it's being limited.
- Maybe I'll switch to black coffee eventually.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Nurse (Boston, MA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I know sodas aren't great, so I'll cut back if I need to.
- I think this can make people rethink their choices, including me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Artist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rarely buy sugary drinks, so this won't change much for me.
- Could be a push for others to find healthier options they didn't consider before.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $4500000 (Low: $2500000, High: $6500000)
Year 3: $4000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $6000000)
Year 5: $3500000 (Low: $1500000, High: $5500000)
Year 10: $3000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $5000000)
Year 100: $2000000 (Low: $500000, High: $4000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill affects over 40 million Americans, a sizable portion of the population reliant on SNAP benefits.
- There could be public opposition or support from health advocacy groups based on the attempt to curb sugary beverage consumption.
- Administrative costs are low initially but could rise if oversight needs increase.
- Long-term savings hinge on health outcomes and dietary changes among SNAP users, which are uncertain.