Key Republican proposing Buy American restriction for SNAP benefits

The top Republican on the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Andy Harris, has long championed state pilots to restrict sweetened beverage purchases in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Now that states are filing waivers for these pilots, and the federal government appears open to granting them, Harris has set his sights on what he calls a “bigger and better” idea: Restricting SNAP benefits to U.S.-grown foods.