Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill Introduced to Add Hot Rotisserie Chicken in SNAP

Sens. Jim Justice (D-WV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act which would allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to purchase hot rotisserie chicken with their benefits. Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) introduced companion legislation in the House.

The bill does not increase funding or participant eligibility for SNAP or allow all hot foods to be included for purchase, only hot rotisserie chicken.

"The Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act is a commonsense solution to an unnecessary problem," said NCC President Harrison Kircher. "Right now, a SNAP family can buy a cold rotisserie chicken - but the moment it's hot, it's off limits. There is no nutritional difference, only an outdated technicality that forces grocery stores to heat the product and cool them back down just to comply, wasting energy, and adding cost.

"Rotisserie chicken - a real food - is one of the most affordable and complete proteins in the grocery store. At around $7, it can feed an entire family. For the 42 million Americans on SNAP, that matters enormously.

"I want to thank Rep. Crawford, and Sens. Justice, Bennett, Fetterman, and Capito for their leadership on this no-cost, commonsense, and long overdue legislation. The National Chicken Council is proud to support it, and we urge Congress to pass it without delay."

The Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to modify the definition of food by adding "hot rotisserie chicken." It only applies to eligible retailers, maintaining that SNAP will not be expanded to restaurants.

During the House Agriculture Committee mark-up of the Farm Bill on March 4, members of the committee debated and expressed strong support for making hot rotisserie chicken available through SNAP, after an amendment offered by Rep. Crawford. Citing a budgetary issue, Rep. Crawford ultimately withdrew his amendment at that time.