July 10, 2020 – FNS Launches the Online Purchasing Pilot
July 2, 2020 – DUCKWORTH, DURBIN INTRODUCE BILL TO IMPLEMENT AND EXPAND ONLINE SNAP PURCHASING NATIONWIDE – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced a bill to address hunger needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond by requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand online Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchasing choices by enabling additional retailers to participate in the program. The Expanding SNAP Options Act would provide funding for the creation of a universal online and app-based portal to make access to nutritious foods from the full variety of SNAP retailers possible and easy to navigate for consumers. Online SNAP purchasing is currently limited to a very small number of approved retailers due to technological and financial barriers, and in many states the only options are Walmart and Amazon.