WASHINGTON — A cross-party coalition of senators is working to expand what families can buy with government food assistance by allowing the purchase of hot rotisserie chicken from grocery stores.
The lawmakers unveiled legislation this week dubbed the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act, designed to make these popular prepared birds available for purchase through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, previously called food stamps.
“America’s best (and delicious) affordability play is Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken,” stated Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who teamed up with West Virginia Republican Senator Jim Justice and other colleagues to back the measure. “It’s one of my family’s favorites, and I’m proud to join this bill with Sen. Justice for all to try. SNAP funds would be well spent to feed our nation’s families who need it.”
Current SNAP regulations provide monthly allowances for low-income households to purchase groceries, but exclude hot prepared meals from coverage. This restriction, established many years ago, was designed to encourage cooking at home. However, opponents argue the rule is no longer relevant and unfairly impacts families already facing financial hardship by blocking access to convenient and healthy meal options.
Food eligibility under SNAP has remained a contentious issue among policymakers at both state and federal levels. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has encouraged states to remove junk food items like soft drinks and sweets from approved purchases. Currently, 22 states, predominantly under Republican leadership, have sought or obtained approval to restrict certain food items.
The SNAP program serves as a crucial component of America’s social support system, helping nearly 42 million people — roughly one in eight Americans — afford groceries. Monthly household benefits average approximately $350, while individual recipients receive around $190 per month on average.
The bipartisan legislation includes co-sponsors Republican Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia and Democrat Michael Bennet from Colorado, alongside Fetterman and Justice. In the House of Representatives, Republican Representative Rick Crawford from Arkansas has championed comparable legislation.
“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,” Justice explained in his statement.
