Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 20.
Introduced:Sep 8, 2025
Primary Sponsor
Robin L. Kelly
Representative
Democratic
IL-2
Cosponsors
1
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Agriculture and Food
Summary
This bill would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to calculate separate Thrifty Food Plan costs for urban and rural parts of Hawaii when setting maximum monthly benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This would result in higher SNAP benefits for low-income rural Hawaiians to account for their higher food costs compared to their urban counterparts.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to calculate separate Thrifty Food Plan costs for urban and rural parts of Hawaii when setting maximum monthly benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This would result in higher SNAP benefits for low-income rural Hawaiians to account for their higher food costs compared to their urban counterparts.
Last updated: 12/30/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Feeding Rural Families Act of 2023</strong></p><p>This bill provides for separate food cost calculations for urban and rural parts of Hawaii for the purposes of determining Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) maximum monthly benefit allotments. Specifically, the bill requires separate food cost adjustments in the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) for urban and rural parts of Hawaii.</p><p>SNAP maximum monthly benefit allotments are tied to the cost of purchasing a nutritionally adequate low-cost diet, as measured by the Department of Agriculture-created and -calculated TFP. Maximum allotments are set at the monthly cost of the TFP for a four-person family, adjusted for family size. Under current law, maximum allotments are higher (to reflect the cost of food) in Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as in urban and rural parts of Alaska.</p><!--tinycomments|2.1|data:application/json;base64,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-->
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Requires separate food cost calculations for urban and rural Hawaii in the Thrifty Food Plan, which determines SNAP maximum monthly benefits
Currently, SNAP benefits are higher in Hawaii, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands to account for higher food costs, but not specifically for rural vs. urban differences within states
Aim is to provide more accurate SNAP benefits to address the unique food cost challenges faced by low-income rural Hawaiians
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
If enacted, this bill would directly benefit low-income residents living in rural parts of Hawaii by providing them with higher SNAP benefits to account for their higher food costs compared to urban Hawaii. This could help improve food security and nutrition for thousands of rural Hawaiian families struggling to afford a healthy diet.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Agriculture and Food
Related Subjects
Food assistance and relief
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Hawaii
Inflation and prices
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
5181, 119th Congress (2025). "SOAR Act Improvements Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-5181
