NACo testifies on the county role in administering SNAP

Key Takeaways

On September 9, Franklin County, Ohio Deputy County Administrator Joy Bivens testified on behalf of NACo before the U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture at a hearing titled “Exploring State Options in SNAP.” During her testimony, Deputy County Administrator Bivens noted the importance of our intergovernmental partnership with states and the federal government to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in an efficient manner. Her testimony can be viewed here. 

During the hearing, Bivens emphasized to U.S. House Agriculture Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN), Subcommittee Chairman Brad Finstad (R-MN) and Ranking Member Jahana Hayes (D-CT), and other subcommittee members about the importance of tools such as Broad Based Categorical Eligibility, the Standard Utility Allowance, SNAP Employment and Training, and waivers for Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents for county administrators to reduce administrative burden and respond to local economic conditions. Ms. Bivens' response to questions members of the committee submitted for the record can be found here.

As counties continue to improve administration and prepare to implement changes to SNAP enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21), NACo will continue working with our federal partners to ensure counties have the resources needed to do so.