WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, today provided the following statement on the Senate Agriculture Committee’s advancement of the Agricultural Act of 2026, highlighting key priorities for independent grocers included in the legislation.
“Independent grocers are proud to serve as trusted SNAP partners in communities across the country, and we appreciate the work of Senate Agriculture Committee leaders to advance the Farm Bill and support local community stores families rely on,” said Stephanie Johnson, NGA Head of Government Affairs. “The Farm Bill includes important provisions to prohibit SNAP EBT transaction fees, make online SNAP purchasing permanent, expand nutrition incentives, and improve access to healthy food.
“As the bill moves forward, we appreciate support in providing states making good-faith efforts to reduce SNAP payment error rates with additional implementation time. An integrity-aligned approach will help avoid unintended consequences for retailers and the millions of families who depend on SNAP. We encourage lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to build on the progress made in committee and work together toward a bipartisan Farm Bill that can earn broad support and be signed into law.”
NGA has consistently advocated for policies that modernize SNAP while protecting the public-private partnership at the heart of the program. Independent grocers play a critical role in providing nutritious, affordable food in rural, urban, and underserved communities across the country.
NGA thanks Senate Agriculture Committee leaders for moving the Farm Bill process forward and will continue working with lawmakers from both parties as negotiations continue. NGA remains committed to advancing a bipartisan Farm Bill that supports independent grocers, feeds hungry families, and provides states and retailers with a workable path for implementing changes to SNAP.
