The Constitution gives Congress the “power of the purse.” How Congress chooses to spend our resources demonstrates their priorities and highlights the direction they want to take our nation. “Appropriations” is the process for developing our nation’s budget each year. Through it, Congress assigns dollars to federal departments, agencies, and programs. See FRAC’s priorities for appropriations.
Annually, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issues a report on the characteristics of households and individuals participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The most recent report released in May provides details about fiscal year 2024 program participants — critical insights for lawmakers, advocates, and stakeholders., to push back against false, harmful narratives that have been perpetuated about individuals and households SNAP.
Early in May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) finalized their updates to the SNAP retailer stocking standards. The new rule increases the required number of varieties in each food category, and the number of perishable items stores must carry to be eligible as SNAP vendors. These changes will primarily impact small stores, including bodegas and convenience stores, small grocery stores, and combination stores (stores that sell general goods, but also carry some food, like dollar stores), which make up about 70 percent of all SNAP retailers.