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June 2, 2017
Farm Bill Primer: SNAP and Other Nutrition Title Programs
The Nutrition title of the farm bill typically reauthorizes a
a budgetary impact. At the same time, the availability of
number of nutrition or domestic food assistance programs.
appropriated funding also affects SNAP’s operation.
These include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
SNAP’s spending is largely driven by program
Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program) and
participation, which can fluctuate due to economic
certain other programs administered by the U.S.
conditions and program rules (see Figure 1).
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food and Nutrition
Approximately 95% of SNAP spending is for the benefits
Service (FNS). These programs (listed below, with
themselves, which are 100% federally funded.
additional detail in Table 1) were last reauthorized by the
Administrative costs of eligibility determination are shared
Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 farm bill; P.L. 113-79).
between the states and the federal government. Other SNAP
They are authorized through September 30, 2018. Farm
spending includes funds for nutrition education and
bills since 1973 have included reauthorization of the Food
Employment and Training (E&T).
Stamp Program (renamed SNAP in 2008).
Nutrition Programs Reauthorized in a
Figure 1. SNAP Participation and Federal Spending
Farm Bill
(FY1991-FY2016)
The major programs reauthorized in the 2014 farm bill were
the following:
SNAP and related grant programs (e.g., SNAP
Employment & Training);
Programs in lieu of SNAP: Food Distribution Program
on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), grants for certain
territories;
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP);
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP);
Community Food Projects; and
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
(SFMNP).
SNAP is the largest of USDA’s domestic food assistance
programs, in both participation and spending (see Table 1).
Source: CRS, using USDA-FNS Administrative Data.
Relationships with Child Nutrition Reauthorization
Note: Data underlying this chart are available in CRS Report R42505
The authorizing statutes for the child nutrition programs
(see below).
(National School Lunch Program and other institutional
Other Funding
food service programs) and the Special Supplemental
The programs in lieu of SNAP (except for a small amount
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
of FDPIR) are also mandatory spending. TEFAP’s
are typically reauthorized in a “child nutrition
“entitlement commodity” funds for food are mandatory
reauthorization,” not a farm bill. These programs were last
spending, while the program’s administrative costs are
reauthorized by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
discretionary. CSFP is discretionary spending. FFVP and
(P.L. 111-96). However, the 2008 and 2014 farm bills did
SFMNP receive mandatory funding from sources outside of
include policies related to the purchase and distribution of
annual appropriations bills.
food to schools. Though the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable
SNAP in the 2014 Farm Bill
Program (FFVP) is authorized in a statute typically
amended in child nutrition reauthorization, the 2008 and
The 2014 farm bill was formulated and enacted amid
2014 farm bills made some changes to this program.
contentious debate that centered on SNAP spending and
Funding
certain program rules. The enacted 2014 farm bill had to
reconcile significant differences between the House- and
According to the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO’s)
Senate-passed SNAP provisions. The enacted bill
projected costs at the time of enactment, the Nutrition title
ultimately included changes to the treatment of Low-
made up nearly 80% of spending under the 2014 farm bill.
Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
SNAP accounted for the vast majority of the spending in
payments in the calculation of SNAP benefits, funding and
this title.
authority to implement and evaluate Employment and
SNAP Funding
Training (E&T) Pilot Projects, changes to standards for
SNAP is authorized as open-ended mandatory spending and
SNAP-authorized retailers, and a new Food Insecurity
is funded through appropriations laws. As such, amending
Nutrition Incentive grant program, among other changes.
SNAP eligibility, benefits, or other program rules can have
The law did not change SNAP’s financial eligibility rules,
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nor did it change work-related rules. Many of the questions
Related CRS Reports
and debates during the 112th and 113th Congresses’
CRS Report R42353, Domestic Food Assistance: Summary of
formulation of this law persist today and may shape the
Programs, by Randy Alison Aussenberg and Kirsten J. Colello
next farm bill.
CRS Report R43332, SNAP and Related Nutrition Provisions of the
2014 Farm Bill (P.L. 113-79), by Randy Alison Aussenberg
CRS Report R42505, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP): A Primer on Eligibility and Benefits, by Randy Alison
Aussenberg
CRS Report R42394, Drug Testing and Crime-Related Restrictions in
TANF, SNAP, and Housing Assistance, by Maggie McCarty et al.
CRS Report R43400, Work Requirements, Time Limits, and Work
Incentives in TANF, SNAP, and Housing Assistance, by Gene Falk,
Maggie McCarty, and Randy Alison Aussenberg
Table 1. Major Nutrition Programs in the 2014 Farm Bill
FY2016
Expenditures
(in millions)
(exceptions
FY2016
Program
Authorizing Statute
Program Summary
noted)
Participation
Supplemental Nutrition Food and Nutrition Act Provides to low-income households electronic
$70,963
44.2 million
Assistance Program
of 2008 (§1 et seq.)
benefits redeemable for SNAP-eligible foods at
(SNAP) (formerly, Food
SNAP-eligible retailers. Benefit amounts vary by
Stamp Program)
household size and benefit calculation rules. Non-
benefit SNAP funding for matching states’
administrative costs, Employment & Training,
nutrition education, and other SNAP-related costs.
Operates in 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Guam, Virgin Islands; other territories receive
nutrition block grants in lieu of SNAP.
The Emergency Food
Food and Nutrition Act Provides food commodities (and cash support for
$375a
Not available
Assistance Program
of 2008 (§27); the
storage and distribution costs) through states to
(TEFAP)
Emergency Food Act
local emergency feeding organizations (e.g., food
(§204(a))
banks).
Commodity
Agriculture and
Provides supplemental monthly food packages to
$183
585,300
Supplemental Food
Consumer Protection
low-income elderly persons (primarily).
Program (CSFP)
Act of 1973 (§4(a))
Food Distribution
Food and Nutrition Act Provides, in lieu of SNAP benefits, food
$121
93,000
Program on Indian
of 2008 (§4(b));
commodities to low-income households on Indian
Reservations (FDPIR)
Agriculture and
reservations and to Native American families
Consumer Protection
residing in Oklahoma or in designated areas near
Act of 1973 (§4(a))
Oklahoma.
Senior Farmers’ Market Farm Security and Rural Provides vouchers/coupons to low-income seniors
$21
816,000a
Nutrition Program
Investment Act of 2002 to purchase fresh produce at farmers’ markets and
(§4002)
other direct-to-consumer venues.
Community Food
Food and Nutrition Act Competitive grants to nonprofit organizations for
$9
Not available
Projects
of 2008 (§25)
programs that improve access to locally produced
food for low-income households.
Fresh Fruit and
Richard B. Russell
Provides free fresh fruit and vegetable snacks to
$167a
Not available
Vegetable Program
National School Lunch
elementary school students.
(FFVP)b
Act (§19)
Source: Except as noted, participation and funding data from USDA-FNS Key Data Report, dated May 5, 2017, based on data through
February 28, 2017.
a. Obligations data from FY2018 president’s budget, USDA-FNS Explanatory Notes.
b. The 2008 farm bil (P.L. 110-46) permanently authorized and permanently funded FFVP (funds from Section 32). As such, FFVP was
not “reauthorized” in the 2014 bil , but a related pilot study was authorized.
Randy Alison Aussenberg, Specialist in Nutrition
Assistance Policy
IF10663
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Farm Bill Primer: SNAP and Other Nutrition Title Programs
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