Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has reached out to the federal government with a request to modify the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Texas. In a letter addressed to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Abbott is seeking a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. This waiver would allow Texas to restrict SNAP benefits from being used for unhealthy food purchases.

Governor Abbott's letter highlights concerns about the current use of SNAP funds. "SNAP was created to increase access to nutritious food; however, many SNAP purchases are for food with little to no nutritious value," he stated. The Governor points out that under former President Trump's administration, states were given more flexibility to limit the purchase of junk food with SNAP benefits. Abbott expressed optimism about this potential policy change, saying, "I look forward to the opportunities this approach will bring to improve the health and quality of life for low-income Texans."

The Governor's initiative aims at ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent on healthier food options for those relying on SNAP assistance.