By Senator Eric Buckson, 16th District
As a former physical education and health teacher, I’ve spent much of my career focused on helping people live healthier lives. In the Delaware Senate, I’ve continued that mission by championing legislation to eliminate harmful additives like Red Dye 3 from our state’s food supply, Red Dye 40 in our public schools, and to legalize the safe sale of raw milk, a healthy and natural option long prohibited in our state.
Each of these efforts share a central goal: to empower Delawareans with healthier choices. That’s why I introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 105, which called on Governor Meyer to request a federal waiver to prohibit the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase soda, candy, and other types of “junk food.” These are products with no nutritional value that are proven contributors to chronic health conditions like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
This resolution didn’t reduce anyone’s benefits. It did not say that a household or individual receiving SNAP benefits cannot purchase junk food with their own money. It said that if we’re going to spend taxpayer dollars on food assistance, it should be spent on actual food with nutritional value.
Unfortunately, along a party-line vote, SCR 105 failed to pass. Delawareans are left to wonder why such a straightforward, health-focused measure couldn’t receive bipartisan support. My hope is that it was based on a policy disagreement, not simply on a dislike for the current state of national politics. If not, that’s a shame, because Delaware families deserve better than partisan roadblocks when it comes to their health.
The day after SCR 105 was voted down, Senate Democrats in committee supported a joint resolution that directs the Department of Health and Social Services to explore participating in the federal Restaurants Meals Program. Doing so would allow SNAP benefits to be used in restaurants, including fast food establishments. That means Delaware wouldn’t just decline to restrict purchasing junk food with taxpayer dollars, it could actively support taxpayer-funded purchases at McDonald’s, Five Guys, Burger King, and more. I believe Delawareans would be challenged with this change in eligibility if it is approved.
Let’s consider the broader picture. A family of six, like mine, can qualify for up to $1,390 per month, or about $320 per week, in SNAP benefits in Delaware. Factor in the likely possibility of additional public assistance such as subsidized housing, Medicaid, and childcare, and the total taxpayer investment in each qualifying household is significant. That’s not a criticism of those in need, rather it’s a call to responsibility and a concern that this level of support traps recipients due to the benefits cliff. If the government is going to provide a safety net, that net should lift people toward better outcomes, not trap them in cycles including poor health.
In Delaware, 32% of SNAP recipients, including school-aged children, are prediabetic, and 70% of Delawareans on social benefits are obese or overweight. The data on sugary foods and chronic disease is overwhelming. According to the CDC, excess added sugars are directly linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. People who consume 17–21% of their daily calories from added sugar have a 38% higher risk of dying from heart disease compared to those who consume less than 8%. Meanwhile, sugar-sweetened beverages alone are responsible for millions of new diabetes and cardiovascular cases globally each year.
This isn’t about shame or punishment. It’s about stewardship of public resources and public health. It’s about ensuring that when we invest in helping families, we’re also investing in their well-being. Several states have already submitted similar waiver requests to the USDA. Delaware should join them.
Although SCR 105 did not pass, the door isn’t closed. Governor Meyer and his administration still have the authority to submit the waiver. I encourage them to do so. Let’s send a clear message that Delaware is serious about health, serious about nutrition, and serious about putting common sense ahead of politics.