The National Grocers Association (NGA) issued a statement supporting the US House-passed Farm Bill, citing provisions that address costs for independent retailers and expand access to nutrition programs, while urging the Senate to preserve those measures in its version of the legislation.
In a statement following House passage, NGA highlighted language that would permanently prohibit transaction fees on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases made with electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards. The group said such fees would place additional financial pressure on independent grocers, many of which operate in rural and low-income communities with high SNAP participation.
“Independent grocers operate on razor-thin margins, and transaction fees on SNAP purchases have threatened to impose detrimental costs on the very stores that serve as the backbone of food access,” said Stephanie Johnson, NGA’s group vice president of government relations.
The association also voiced support for the bill’s approach to nutrition policy, particularly its decision not to impose new federal restrictions on SNAP-eligible foods while state-level pilot programs are still underway. Several states are currently testing purchasing restrictions through waivers approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and NGA said the results of those pilots should inform any future policy changes.
The House bill instead includes provisions to expand incentives for healthier food purchases through the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program. The measure allows incentives to be applied to frozen fruits and vegetables and reduces matching requirements for retailers operating in high-poverty areas.
In addition, the legislation would make SNAP online purchasing permanent nationwide, a move NGA said would provide retailers with greater certainty as they invest in e-commerce and delivery capabilities.
The Farm Bill’s Next Stop
Looking ahead, NGA said it will continue to advocate for modernization of the EBT system as the Farm Bill moves to the Senate. The group is backing provisions that would introduce chip-enabled cards and strengthen protections against fraud, including EBT skimming.
The Farm Bill, which is typically renewed every five years, has been operating under extensions since the previous authorization expired. The House-passed version now heads to the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to develop their own proposal before the two chambers reconcile differences in a final bill.
