WASHINGTON, July 24 -- Sen. Joni Ernst issued the following press release:
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is strengthening nutrition standards in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by urging Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. to close a loophole that has allowed more than $500 million in SNAP benefits to be spent at fast-food restaurants in recent years.
In a letter to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, Ernst and Representative Brandon Gill (R-Texas) are calling for a review of the Restaurant Meals Program:
"Under federal law, SNAP benefits generally may be used for most foods and beverages intended ...