Hurricane Helene brought levels of devastation to the southeastern United States not seen since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As my community and others began the long recovery process, those in need who are part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida had to wait seven days for the Agriculture Department to grant a hot foods waiver to be able to use their nutrition benefits for a hot meal. That’s why we must support the Hot Foods Act and urge Congress to do the same.
Thousands of Americans across the Deep South were without access to electricity, cooking facilities, and basic necessities. SNAP recipients in these states are burdened even further due to outdated government regulations, which mandate that they are limited to purchases of only cold foods, not hot meals such as a rotisserie chicken, hot soup or a hot sandwich. Disaster-specific hot food waivers can be granted by the USDA, but these waivers take days or even weeks to go into effect, leaving families who are hungry and in need while they work to rebuild their lives without access to a warm meal.
The emergency waivers that allow people to buy hot meals often don’t last nearly as long as they need them. It will take years to rebuild many of our communities. Some people will spend a lot of that time moving from place to place before they can finally settle into something resembling a regular pattern again. Emergency declarations tend to be much shorter — lasting only a couple of months in many instances. The need for hot, prepared foods will linger long after the waivers expire.
Families and children in crisis deserve better in the wake of Helene’s destruction. The Hot Foods Act provides a simple solution. This legislation would permanently allow SNAP customers to purchase hot, prepared foods with their benefits, ensuring that families throughout the year, including in times of crisis, have access to ready-to-eat meals. There are many situations when cooking at home is not feasible, with disasters being just one of those times. The Hot Foods Act would provide a sensible solution, eliminating the need for emergency waivers and ensuring that any family on SNAP can access hot, prepared meals whenever needed.
The bill would also make it easier for SNAP retailers, such as grocery stores or convenience stores, to serve their communities. As a SNAP retailer and convenience store owner, I understand that often our stores are the only ones open before, during and after natural disasters and can be more accessible in remote parts of the country where travel is difficult. We provide food and fuel to vulnerable communities and first responders when the going gets tough.
Allowing those on SNAP to be able to purchase hot foods will go a long way toward supporting the families who have suffered.