This legislative proposal aims to guarantee the continuous provision of benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during fiscal year 2026. It specifically appropriates necessary funds to the Secretary of Agriculture for any period when interim continuing appropriations or full-year appropriations for the Department of Agriculture have not been enacted. The appropriated funds are intended to cover uninterrupted SNAP benefits, consolidated block grants under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, and the operation of the WIC program. This includes a provision for retroactivity , ensuring that any benefits missed between September 30, 2025, and the bill's enactment date are also covered. The funding mechanism will remain in effect until either full appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2026 are enacted into law or September 30, 2026, whichever occurs first. Furthermore, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to reimburse State agencies for costs incurred in administering these programs during an appropriations lapse, provided they complied with federal law. Expenditures made under this act will ultimately be charged against future applicable appropriations once they are enacted.
This legislative proposal aims to guarantee the continuous provision of benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during fiscal year 2026. It specifically appropriates necessary funds to the Secretary of Agriculture for any period when interim continuing appropriations or full-year appropriations for the Department of Agriculture have not been enacted. The appropriated funds are intended to cover uninterrupted SNAP benefits, consolidated block grants under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, and the operation of the WIC program. This includes a provision for retroactivity , ensuring that any benefits missed between September 30, 2025, and the bill's enactment date are also covered. The funding mechanism will remain in effect until either full appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2026 are enacted into law or September 30, 2026, whichever occurs first. Furthermore, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to reimburse State agencies for costs incurred in administering these programs during an appropriations lapse, provided they complied with federal law. Expenditures made under this act will ultimately be charged against future applicable appropriations once they are enacted.