Healthy Food Choices Act of 2016
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (31 Mar 2016): Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.
What this bill does
The Healthy Food Choices Act of 2016, introduced in the House of Representatives, proposes to amend the law governing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It would require that benefits from SNAP be used to purchase foods that meet the nutritional standards already in place for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.
In addition to the existing WIC-eligible foods, the bill specifies that meat, fish, poultry, certain types of beans and legumes (including canned varieties and baked beans with meat), would also be permitted purchases with SNAP benefits. The goal of WIC's nutritional standards is to provide foods that address nutrient deficiencies for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children, or to generally promote their health.
This bill was introduced on March 23, 2016, and has not advanced beyond that initial stage. If enacted, its provisions would take effect on January 1, 2017.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Healthy Food Choices Act of 2016
This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to apply nutritional standards for the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to foods purchased for USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program), with the addition of:
• meat, fish, and poultry;
• beans, soups, and immature varieties of legumes (such as those used in canned green peas, green beans, snap beans, yellow beans, and wax beans); and
• baked beans with meat.
(Foods purchased for WIC must: (1) contain nutrients determined by nutritional research to be lacking in the diets of pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, or children; or (2) promote the health of the population served by the program.)
Timeline
31 Mar 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 4881 do?
- The Healthy Food Choices Act of 2016, introduced in the House of Representatives, proposes to amend the law governing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It would require that benefits from SNAP be used to purchase foods that meet the nutritional standards already in place for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. In addition to the existing WIC-eligible foods, the bill specifies that meat, fish, poultry, certain types of beans and legumes (including canned varieties and baked beans with meat), would also be permitted purchases with SNAP benefits. The goal of WIC's nutritional standards is to provide foods that address nutrient deficiencies for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children, or to generally promote their health. This bill was introduced on March 23, 2016, and has not advanced beyond that initial stage. If enacted, its provisions would take effect on January 1, 2017.
- Has H.R. 4881 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 4881. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 4881?
- H.R. 4881 was sponsored by Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] (R-TN), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 4881?
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition. (31 Mar 2016).
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