Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) introduced a bill in the House on Thursday to ban Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using their food stamps at restaurants.
SNAP benefits are typically reserved for groceries, but the federal program has an initiative that allows beneficiaries to get hot meals at certain fast-food establishments, such as McDonald’s or Subway.
The SNAP Restaurant Meals Program has cost over half a billion dollars in taxpayer funds across nine participating states between June 2023 and May 2025, according to the New York Post.
“Taxpayers are footing the bill for fast food through SNAP. More than $524 MILLION was spent at restaurants through this loophole in just two years,” Gill posted on X. “Today, I introduced legislation to end the fast-food loophole and refocus SNAP on nutritious groceries for struggling Americans.”
The Washington Examiner contacted Gill’s office to obtain a copy of the bill’s text.
Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia all offer hot meals to eligible SNAP beneficiaries in agreement with participating restaurants.
Though the bill’s restrictions will apply to eateries, the Ending Restaurant Purchases with SNAP Act will still allow public and nonprofit groups to provide meals for SNAP beneficiaries, the New York Post reported.
The issue came up during a congressional hearing in June when Gill pressed a Democratic witness on whether food stamps should be used for unhealthy products, such as soda.
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“Do the American people need Coca-Cola to survive?” he asked SNAP Director for the Food Research and Action Center, Gina Plata-Nino, who avoided answering the question directly. “I think most people can rationally say that you don’t need Coca-Cola to survive,” the Texas Republican said after he gave her an opportunity to answer.
A month after the hearing, Gill signed a letter led by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) that objected to SNAP benefits used to buy fast food. The newly introduced bill is the latest action Gill has taken on the issue.