Trending Now - Bipartisan Bill Aims to Allow SNAP Funds for Rotisserie Chicken
WHO:
ABC News - A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Republican Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia, are sponsoring the bill.
ABC News - Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Democrat Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado are also introducing the bill.
ABC News - Republican Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas has pushed for similar legislation in the House.
WHAT:
ABC News - Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania stated, “America’s best (and delicious) affordability play is Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken,” highlighting the affordability and popularity of rotisserie chicken among families.
ABC News - Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pressed states to exclude junk food such as soda and candy from SNAP benefits.
ABC News - The senators introduced the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act, which aims to make rotisserie chicken an eligible purchase under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).
ABC News - SNAP currently does not cover hot prepared foods, a policy that has been in place for decades.
ABC News - Approximately 42 million Americans, or about 1 in 8, use SNAP to help buy groceries.
ABC News - The average monthly benefit per household is about $350, and the average benefit per person is about $190.
WHERE:
ABC News - The bill was introduced in Washington, D.C.
WHEN:
ABC News - The bill was introduced in the week of April 17th, 2026.
WHY:
ABC News - Critics argue that the exclusion of hot prepared foods from SNAP is outdated and penalizes families that are already struggling to make ends meet, excluding convenient and nutritious options.
ABC News - Critics argue that the exclusion of hot prepared foods from SNAP is outdated and penalizes struggling families.
ABC News - Sen. Justice stated, “We have to give people the option to put a healthy, protein-dense choice on the table that actually tastes good and doesn’t take an hour and a half to cook.”
HOW:
ABC News - The Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act seeks to amend SNAP regulations to include rotisserie chicken as an eligible purchase.
(UPDATED April 23, 2026 19:22 UTC)
Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania recently highlighted the affordability and popularity of Costco's $4.99 rotisserie chicken, calling it America's best delicious affordability play. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is urging states to exclude junk food like soda and candy from SNAP benefits, a move that has sparked debate. Critics argue that excluding hot prepared foods from SNAP is outdated and unfairly penalizes families who are already struggling to make ends meet by limiting their access to convenient and nutritious options.
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(UPDATED April 23, 2026 17:29 UTC)
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including Democrats and Republicans, has introduced the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act in Washington, D.C., aiming to make rotisserie chicken an eligible purchase under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP. Currently, SNAP does not cover hot prepared foods, a policy that critics argue is outdated and penalizes struggling families, with approximately 42 million Americans relying on the program for grocery assistance. Senator Jim Justice emphasized the need for healthy, protein-dense options that are convenient for families, stating that people should have the choice to put good-tasting food on the table without spending hours in the kitchen.