Chairwoman Stabenow Issues Statement on the USDA Update of the Thrifty Food Plan

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement on the release of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) reevaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, as required under the 2018 Farm Bill. 

“We can all agree that the world is much different today than it was in 1975 when the Thrifty Food Plan was last updated. Congress recognized this and that is why the 2018 Farm Bill required the USDA to modernize SNAP benefits levels. This long overdue update finally takes into account the time constraints, nutritional needs, and budgets of working families in America today. For the families struggling to find enough time to prepare and share meals or afford enough nutrition for their growing kids, or the seniors on fixed incomes now navigating complicated dietary health needs, this will be a welcome improvement,” said Chairwoman Stabenow.  

USDA's reevaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan provides a fair and realistic look at the cost of a nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet today. As a result, the average Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit will increase by $36.24 per person, per month, or $1.19 per day, for Fiscal Year 2022 starting October 1. 

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