Oklahoma’s Second District Congressman Josh Brecheen introduces the Healthy SNAP Act of 2023, companion legislation to S.1485, introduced by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

 The Healthy Snap Act would exclude soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts from being purchased with SNAP benefits. The bill also requires the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure that eligible food promotes the health of SNAP recipients and reflects nutrition science, public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns.

 Breechen says taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for unhealthy choices of others.

 Breechen says taxpayer dollars should not to be spent on junk foods providing no nutritional value that contribute to America’s obesity epidemic. He says this bill, if passed, would protect taxpayer dollars, improve diet quality, and reduce medical costs.

 According to the CDC, obesity costs taxpayers $150 billion per year in the U.S.