WHAT HAPPENED: State poultry associations representing 19 separate states this week sent a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) urging the committee to include the House-passed Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act in the Senate Farm Bill. “On behalf of the undersigned state poultry associations and the thousands of farm families, growers, and processors we represent, we write to express our strong support for the House-passed provision allowing SNAP recipients to purchase hot rotisserie chicken, and to respectfully urge you to include this commonsense, no-cost fix in the Senate’s Farm Bill,” the letter said.
WHY IT MATTERS: Under current law, SNAP recipients may purchase a cold rotisserie chicken – the very same bird, but refrigerated – but not a hot one. The letter notes that a hot rotisserie chicken is one of the best values in the grocery store, a complete, ready-to-eat protein for less than $7 on average, according to USDA.
HOW DID WE GET HERE: Governors from eight states have requested waivers to allow hot rotisserie chicken to be purchased via SNAP, but USDA has not granted them due to lack of authority. The House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan amendment led by Reps. Rick Crawford (R-AR) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI) to include the bill into H.R. 7567, its version of the Farm Bill. The amendment passed by an overwhelming 384-35 vote. Senators Jim Justice (R-WV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and John Fetterman (D-PA) have introduced companion legislation in the Senate, which has been cosponsored by seven other senators.
WHO SIGNED THE LETTER: The following associations signed onto the letter: Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, California Poultry Federation, Delmarva Chicken Association (DE, MD, VA), Georgia Poultry Federation, Kentucky Poultry Federation, Michigan Allied Poultry Industries, Mississippi Poultry Association, North Carolina Poultry Federation, Northwest Chicken Council (OR, WA), Ohio Poultry Association, PennAg Industries Association, Tennessee Poultry Federation, Texas Poultry Federation, The Poultry Federation (AR, MO, OK), and the Virginia Poultry Federation.
NCC’S TAKE: NCC strongly supported and advocated for the amendment in the House Farm Bill, and views this week’s letter from 19 state poultry associations as a powerful reinforcement of that effort.
WHAT’S NEXT: We are urging the Senate, as they consider their version of the Farm Bill, to build on this momentum and add this provision that costs nothing, requires no new spending, and simply extends an existing benefit to a ready-to-eat protein that’s already one of the best values in the grocery store.
WHAT HAPPENED: The Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday released a “discussion draft” of the Senate’s farm bill. The draft largely mirrors the House-passed Farm, Food, and National Security Act (H.R. 7567) but omits several of the House bill’s provisions — including the pesticide labeling preemption, year-round E15 sales, and a provision addressing California’s Prop 12.
WHY IT MATTERS: The House-passed bill included the broadly popular provision — by a vote of 384–35 — allowing SNAP recipients to purchase hot rotisserie chicken with their benefits. NCC continues to advocate for this provision to be included in the legislation.
WHAT’S NEXT: Sen. Boozman has said he plans to hold a markup after the July 4 recess and before the annual Congressional August recess. House Ag Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.) said he was encouraged by the text and looks forward to working with Boozman to get a farm bill to the President’s desk. With the current extension expiring September 30, NCC will continue to monitor the Senate’s progress and advocate for the rotisserie chicken provision and other industry priorities as the bill advances.
Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR). Source: Brent Barnett/Brownfield
WHAT HAPPENED: USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins made her second annual appearance before the House Agriculture Committee yesterday in a hearing that touched on a wide-ranging list of topics, from the recent finding of New World Screwworm in Texas to SNAP funding and work-requirement changes to USDA’s reorganization plan.
WHY IT MATTERS: One of the hearing’s recurring themes was the recent House-passed Farm, Food, and National Security Act, also known as the Farm Bill. This bill includes an amendment to add hot rotisserie chicken to SNAP eligibility, which is one of NCC’s priorities.
SNAP CHANGES: The most contentious parts of the hearing were in discussions over SNAP changes made by the “One Big Beautiful Bill” last summer. Numerous Democratic committee members addressed the falling participation in the program and the work requirements enacted in the OBBB as effectively cutting the program. Rollins defended the changes, noting that the roughly 4.5 million fewer participants in the program as a result of work requirements is restoring program integrity.
USDA REORGANIZATION: Rollins also defended USDA’s ongoing restructuring, which impacts many areas of the department and would move staff away from the Washington, D.C. region.
NEW WORLD SCREWWORM: Rollins addressed the recently confirmed detection of NWS, the first U.S. detection since the 1960’s, and sought to reassure members of the committee of USDA’s response to the detection. She noted that USDA has been working with other government agencies and preparing for a potential detection for over a year, including standing up the sterile-fly facility in South Texas and the suspension of live animal imports from Mexico.
WHAT’S NEXT: Secretary Rollins will testify before the Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday, June 10, at 10 am EST. A link to the livestream of that hearing can be found here.
Secretary Rollins testifies at the hearing on Thursday. Source: Reuters
