Washington, D.C. – The National Grocers Association (NGA) today joined a coalition of leading retail associations in opposing any amendment to the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 that would impose new federal restrictions on foods eligible for purchase under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In a letter sent to congressional leaders, NGA, along with NACS, NATSO, SIGMA, and EMA, called on lawmakers to allow ongoing state-level SNAP restriction waivers to be studied and evaluated before Congress legislates a nationwide overhaul.
Together, the coalition’s members operate storefronts where millions of SNAP customers shop every day, including the independent community grocers that account for roughly one-third of all U.S. grocery sales, more than $250 billion in annual sales, and over one million American jobs.
“Independent grocers are the food access lifeline in thousands of rural towns, urban neighborhoods, and Main Streets across America, where we serve SNAP customers every single day,” said Stephanie Johnson, NGA’s group vice president of government relations. “Congress is being asked to vote on sweeping new SNAP restrictions before the 22-state pilot waivers, which are already underway, have been evaluated. On behalf of America’s independent grocers, we are urging Congress to let the data come in before locking a confusing, costly mandate into federal statute.”
The amendments under consideration would include broadly defined product categories such as “soft drinks,” “soda,” “candy, ice cream, prepared desserts and similar items,” and seafood not domestically sourced, with no consistent statutory definitions, making the language overly broad and vague for compliance.
“Instead of piling on new red tape through SNAP restrictions, Congress should let the pilots play out and work with retailers on the front lines before making changes that hit millions of families and small businesses,” Johnson concluded.
To view the full text of the letter, click here.
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About the National Grocers Association
NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers.
