A Texas congressman introduced a bill to ban sugary soda purchases through SNAP aimed at enhancing public health.
WASHINGTON D.C., DC — A Texas Republican congressman announced the filing of a bill aimed at banning the “purchase of sugary carbonated beverages through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).”
The bill, called the Funding is Zero for Zero Nutrition Options (FIZZ-NO) Act, was filed in a legislative endeavor to improve public health and reduce taxpayer costs, according to Rep. Keith Self (R-TX).
“SNAP was originally created to help the poorest Americans access nutritious food,” Self said in a press release. “Allowing taxpayer dollars to subsidize sugary sodas, which offer zero nutritional value and contribute to costly health conditions, is counterproductive. The FIZZ-NO Act is a common-sense solution to strengthen public health and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 40% of adults and 19% of children in the United States are considered obese, and the consumption of sugary beverages has been directly linked to the increased risks of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic health issues, Self’s office said.
Self also said the aforementioned health issues contribute to $190 billion annually in healthcare, mostly through taxpayer-funded Medicaid.
If passed, it would take effect in 180 days, according to the text of the bill.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there were an average of 42.1 million SNAP users per month in the 2023 fiscal year. Federal SNAP spending totaled $112.8 billion and benefits averaged $211.93 per participant per month, USDA said.
The share of U.S. residents who received SNAP benefits in FY 2023 was 12.6%. The percentage of residents who received SNAP benefits varied by state, ranging as high as 23.1% to as low as 4.6%.
WFAA reached out to the American Beverage Association for comment on the bill. We’ll update this story when we get a response.
