Skip to main content

Reps. Kildee, McGovern Introduce Bill to Expand Healthy Food Access for Underserved Communities

April 18, 2018

Legislation Reauthorizes and Expands Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program for SNAP Recipients

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) and Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) today introduced legislation reauthorizing and expanding funding for a fruit and vegetable incentive program to improve access to healthy foods for Americans who receive nutrition assistance, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The Kildee-McGovern bill, The Gus Schumacher Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Program Reauthorization Act of 2018, makes critical investments in fruit and vegetable incentive programs like Michigan's successful "Double Up Food Bucks" program. These programs double the purchasing power of SNAP benefits if recipients use them to buy nutritious fruits and vegetables at places like grocery stores and farmers markets. For instance, a family that spends their SNAP benefits on Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables would receive a dollar for dollar match to buy additional fruits or vegetables, essentially doubling the value of their food assistance benefits. Massachusetts has a similar "Double Up Food Bucks" program called the Healthy Incentives Program that has been very successful. In its first season, more than 35,000 families participated in the program and were able to gain access to almost $3 million in healthy local produce.

The Kildee-McGovern bill is named after Gus Schumacher, a champion of SNAP and fruit and vegetable incentive programs, and former Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Gus Schumacher sadly passed away last year.

The Kildee-McGovern legislation would:

  • Invest in healthy food incentive programs like Double Up Food Bucks, from the current level of $100 million to $275 million over five years. This will help each program across the country reach more families and seniors.
  • Expand access to healthy fruits and vegetables by encouraging Double Up Food Bucks and other successful food incentive programs to be used at grocery stores and farmers markets.
  • Provide training and technical assistance to grocery stores, farmers markets and public and non-profit agencies so they can best implement this program. Training will connect stores and markets to best practices developed over nearly a decade so they can best serve their community.
  • Rename the FINI program to honor Gus Schumacher, the former USDA Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services and SNAP incentive champion.

"I'm proud to work with Congressman McGovern to expand access to healthy fruits and vegetables for Americans who currently rely on food assistance," Congressman Kildee said. "By supporting successful programs like Michigan's Double Up Food Bucks, we are increasing the purchasing power for families and making it more affordable to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. This will expand access to nutritious food and improve the health of millions of families, children and seniors across the country. In the last Farm Bill, we successfully pushed to fund these important initiatives, and this year I am proud to continue fighting for these efforts because no American should have to struggle with putting food on the table for themselves and their families."

"Solving hunger starts with smart programs like FINI that make it easier for SNAP recipients to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and stay healthy. FINI enabled my home state of Massachusetts to expand its double up bucks program statewide and has dramatically increased the access to fresh fruits and vegetables for SNAP recipients. It's a good investment," Congressman Jim McGovern said. "Gus Schumacher was one of America's strongest voices in the fight to end hunger and a local food champion who helped connect farmers with families in need. Naming this program after him is a beautiful tribute to a lifetime working to ensure hungry families have access to the fruits and vegetables they need. I am proud to work with Congressman Kildee to continue the important work FINI does every year to help reduce hunger across the country."

"Representatives McGovern and Kildee have been steadfast champions of SNAP incentives," said Oran Hesterman, CEO of Fair Food Network, the organization behind the Double Up Food Bucks incentive program, which started in Michigan and is now in more than 20 states. "FINI fueled a nationwide expansion of SNAP incentives. Today's bill continues that momentum with direct benefits for low-income families, American farmers, and local economies."

"The FINI program has proven itself as an effective driver in increasing fresh fruit and vegetable consumption for low-income consumers, but as always, we must ask if we can do more. We thank Congressmen Kildee and McGovern in moving FINI forward with a proposal that increases investment, expands year-round access, and bolsters the ability for FINI to operate in grocery stores, where 82% of SNAP benefits are redeemed. And we can think of no better person than Gus Schumacher to name the program after – a man who pushed all of us to find solutions to ensure all Americans have access to fresh produce," said Tom Stenzel, President and CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association.

"Independent retail supermarkets and their wholesale suppliers play a vital role in the communities they serve by providing access to healthy food choices and as a contributor to the local economy. The National Grocers Association applauds the introduction of legislation to strengthen the FINI incentive program, which supports healthy eating habits of low-income customers and increases fruit and vegetable purchases. We look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to reauthorize and expand the FINI program to more local, independent supermarkets," said Chris Jones, National Grocers Association Vice President of Government Relations and Counsel.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-At Large), Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) are original cosponsors of the legislation.