A SENATE RESOLUTION urging congress to limit the types of food eligible for purchase under the supplemental nutrition assistance program (snap) to nutritious foods.
Whereas, according to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three children is obese or overweight before their fifth birthday; and
Whereas, according to the CDC, obese children are more likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and obese children are more likely to become obese adults; and
Whereas, according to the U.S. Census of 2009, the number of U.S. citizens in poverty is the largest number in the 51 years poverty estimates have been published; and
Whereas, low‑income families typically have less access to both healthy food choices as well as opportunities for physical activity; and
Whereas, the CDC lists various priority strategies for decreasing early childhood obesity, including increasing physical activity, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and reducing energy dense food and sugar consumption; and
Whereas, First Lady Michelle Obama has launched a "Let's Move" initiative that seeks to eliminate obesity in a generation and has as a few of its main points of action (i) providing healthy food in schools and (ii) improving access to healthy affordable foods; and
Whereas, the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 defines food as "any food or food product for home consumption except alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption…[and includes as eligible food items] seeds and plants for use in gardens to produce food for the personal consumption of the eligible household…"; and
Whereas, the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 also includes as eligible food items that may have little or no nutritional value, such as soft drinks, candy, cakes, and cookies; and
Whereas, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal aid program established pursuant to federal law to provide benefits to eligible SNAP recipients; and
Whereas, amending the definition of "food" under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to limit the types of food eligible for purchase under SNAP to nutritious foods would require action by Congress; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
SECTION 1.  The Senate urges Congress to amend the definition of "food" under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to limit the types of food purchases eligible under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to nutritious foods.
SECTION 2.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to each member of North Carolina's Congressional delegation.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.