September XX, 2023
Dear Representatives DeGette, Neguse, Boebert, Buck, Lamborn, Crow, Pettersen, House Committee on Agriculture Member Caraveo and Senators Hickenlooper and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Member Bennet:
This collective group of Colorado Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shoppers, retailers, farmers, nonprofit workers, volunteers, and community members connected throughout the food system writes today to show our strong support–across the political spectrum–for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) and requests that you consider supporting, strengthening, and expanding the program in the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill. GusNIP’s incentive programs help low-income shoppers purchase more fruits and vegetables while supporting Colorado’s local farming and small retail economies. We want to extend the invitation for you to use this opportunity to ensure that these valuable programs are fully funded and efficiently operated to optimize accessibility and impact in Colorado.
For 15 years, SNAP incentives like those funded through GusNIP have been a bridge to accessing healthy, locally-grown produce among SNAP shoppers. In fact, people who use nutrition incentives eat more fruits and vegetables than the average American and improve their overall nutrition security. It is abundantly clear that GusNIP programs, like Colorado’s Double Up Food Bucks, are investments in public health outcomes and dispel the myth that SNAP shoppers choose to eat unhealthy foods. By giving these Coloradans purchasing power and agency, we are empowering them to make nutritional choices that impact their wellbeing and do more than simply provide sustenance. This is an investment in individual and community well-being.
Aside from nutritional outcomes, GusNIP benefits Colorado’s food producers and local economies. Findings show that this economic impact continues to grow over time. In Colorado alone, Double Up Food Bucks provides a 2.5% economic multiplier in our economy, connecting low income shoppers with produce grown here in our state. With your investment in GusNIP funding, we can keep up our momentum and continue to see success in our health outcomes and economy.
As the only federal program dedicated to connecting SNAP families to local, nutritious foods, specifically, GusNIP needs tremendous support, but it also needs modernization and streamlining. We want to keep reaping these huge benefits in our economy and public health outcomes, and are so grateful for the historic bipartisan support that allowed GusNIP to grow into what it is today–just in the course of several years. It is clear that GusNIP is a needed resource for both low income shoppers and our farming economy. As you write the 2023 Farm Bill and cast your votes, we Coloradans implore you to continue building upon this bipartisan effort and request the following improvements and modifications.
- Advance innovation & sustainability in SNAP incentive initiatives by Increasing mandatory GusNIP funding from $250 million over five years to a minimum of $200 million per year with the allocation to be used for program funding; reducing the required match for SNAP incentives to no more than 10%; codifying statutory language that allows for flexible produce incentive earning and redemption so that grant recipients can decide how SNAP shoppers can earn incentives, either SNAP for produce, produce for SNAP, or produce for produce; developing a new, separate tier of funding within GusNIP with a minimum grant amount of $10 million where this funding tier would be available to jurisdictions (like Colorado!) that are ready to scale their programs, and this tier would allow 90 cents on every dollar to go directly to produce incentives, without requiring a match.
- Increase the reach and impact of SNAP benefits by creating processes to streamline SNAP access, removing the ban on hot prepared food items, and increasing SNAP funds for older adults and people with disabilities through a standard medical deduction; increasing SNAP benefit allotments to support healthy diets for SNAP shoppers by basing general benefit allotments on the Low-Cost Food Plan instead of the Thrifty Food Plan, and increasing the minimum monthly benefit, which is currently set at $23.
Over 500,000 Colorado residents–approximately 9% of the total state population–participate in SNAP, and of those more than 64% are families with children, yet they still struggle to put enough nutritious food on the table. We need a robust, fully-funded and accessible SNAP program as a foundation for GusNIP, thus we oppose any cuts to the SNAP program. SNAP and GusNIP are huge contributors to overall positive outcomes in public health and to the Colorado economy, and GusNIP can expand its reach to help even more low income shoppers, farmers, and small retailers across the state with your enthusiastic support.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
