H.R.2489 - Hunger-Free Future Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.2489, the Hunger-Free Future Act of 2025, aims to prevent the Secretary of Agriculture from implementing updates to the thrifty food plan under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 if those updates would lead to increased food insecurity. The bill defines food insecurity as the number of households lacking adequate food due to insufficient resources. It was introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
The bill seeks to amend Section 3(u) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to ensure that any re-evaluation or update of the thrifty food plan does not increase food insecurity.
This legislation reflects a concern that adjustments to the thrifty food plan, intended to provide a basis for SNAP benefits, could inadvertently worsen food insecurity for vulnerable populations.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill, if enacted, would be to constrain the Secretary of Agriculture's ability to adjust the thrifty food plan.
Specifically, it would prevent updates that are projected to increase food insecurity, potentially stabilizing SNAP benefits but also limiting the plan's responsiveness to changing economic conditions or nutritional needs.
This could lead to a situation where benefits remain constant even if the actual cost of food increases, potentially harming low-income households.
Potential Benefits
- Prevents potential reductions in SNAP benefits due to adjustments in the thrifty food plan.
- Provides stability and predictability in food assistance for low-income households.
- Focuses attention on the critical issue of food insecurity and its impact on vulnerable populations.
- Ensures that updates to the thrifty food plan are carefully considered for their potential impact on food insecurity.
- May encourage the USDA to explore alternative methods of addressing food insecurity.
Potential Disadvantages
- May limit the ability of the USDA to update the thrifty food plan to reflect current food costs and nutritional needs.
- Could result in SNAP benefits that are inadequate to meet the actual cost of a healthy diet.
- May create inflexibility in the food assistance program, making it less responsive to changing economic conditions.
- Could lead to unintended consequences if the definition of 'food insecurity' is interpreted too narrowly.
- May hinder efforts to improve the nutritional quality of food assistance provided through SNAP.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the general welfare clause of the Constitution, as it aims to address food insecurity among vulnerable populations. The Constitution states that the government should "promote the general Welfare".
However, the specific mechanism of restricting the Secretary of Agriculture's authority could be debated in terms of the separation of powers, as Congress is directly intervening in the executive branch's implementation of a program.
Ultimately, the constitutionality of the bill would likely depend on whether it is viewed as a reasonable regulation of a federal program designed to promote the general welfare.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).