Florida Senate - 2023 SM By Senator Gruters 22-01247-23 2023814__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Senate Memorial A memorial to the Congress of the United States, 2 urging Congress to prohibit the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to purchase soft drinks. 5

WHEREAS, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 7 (SNAP) offers nutrition assistance to eligible low-income individuals and families in the form of funds to purchase eligible food, and

WHEREAS, the Food and Nutrition Service, under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), administers SNAP, and the Florida Department of Children and Families distributes the benefits, and

WHEREAS, SNAP benefits may be used to purchase any food or food product intended for human consumption, including soft drinks, but may not be used to purchase alcoholic beverages, 17 tobacco, hot foods, and hot food products prepared for immediate consumption, and

WHEREAS, soft drinks are nutrient poor but rich in calories and can lead to nutritional deficiencies and health disorders, 21 including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, and

WHEREAS, state and local governments have requested permission from the USDA for waivers to prohibit SNAP participants from purchasing soft drinks with their benefits as a way to promote healthy choices, and

WHEREAS, the USDA has denied every such request, NOW, 28 THEREFORE, 29 Florida Senate - 2023 SM 814 22-01247-23 2023814__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 30

Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 31 That the United States Congress is requested to prohibit recipients of benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), 7 U.S.C. ss. 2011 et seq., from using SNAP benefits to purchase flavored carbonated beverages sweetened with natural or artificial sweeteners, also known as 37 “soft drinks.” 38 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State dispatch copies of this memorial to the President of the United States, 40 the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the Florida delegation to the United States Congress. 43