GOP bill blocks food stamp users from buying junk food.

GOP bill blocks food stamp users from buying junk food.HT: TheHill.

Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) on Tuesday proposed legislation that would require people using federal food stamps to buy only healthy food.

The Healthy Food Choices Act, H.R. 3073, reflects a long-standing criticism that the government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allows people to buy billions of dollars worth of junk food. A 2012 study found that food stamps enable about $2 billion worth of junk food purchases each year, and that more than half of all SNAP benefits are used to buy sugary drinks.

Efforts to curb these purchases have been opposed by anti-hunger groups. But Roe said some states are already exploring ways to curb junk food purchases through the SNAP program, and argued that the federal government needs to take steps as well.

"Already, states like Wisconsin and South Carolina have shown interest in improving the healthfulness of choices in their SNAP programs," he said. "By giving SNAP recipients more nutritious choices, we can take a meaningful step towards ending hunger in America."

Under Roe's bill, food purchased under SNAP would have to meet the same guidelines that food purchased under the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program already have to meet. The WIC guidelines are strict, and are made up of several different standards for products like breakfast cereal, milk, vegetables, peanut butter and other foods.

Breakfast cereal, for example, must contain certain levels of iron, cannot contain more than 21.2 grams of sugar per 100 grams of cereal, and must have whole grain as a primary ingredient in order to be bought under the WIC program.

Roe said those sorts of standards promote health, and should be emulated by the SNAP program.

"As a physician, I realize the importance of healthy eating, and as an obstetrician, I've seen how the WIC program helps empower families receiving assistance to use taxpayer dollars to purchase healthy, wholesome foods," he said. "If these guidelines are good and healthy enough for women and children, then SNAP recipients should also benefit from adhering to the same standards."

  Hmmm.....Then start making healthy food cheaper, otherwise there going to a whole lot of Hungry voters.Read the full story here.

Video - 'Hungry' First Lady Rolls Her Eyes At Boehner As He Jokes With President.

Michelle Obama to promote 'Let's Move' in London.

Michelle Obama to promote 'Let's Move' in London.(TheHill).First Lady Michelle Obama will hold an anti-obesity event for 1,000 children in London, where she'll be leading a U.S. Olympic delegation. On a conference call with reporters Monday, Obama said she was "beyond proud" to lead the presidential delegation to the Olympic opening ceremony. "It's truly a dream come true," she said. Obama will host a event for her "Let's Move!" anti-obesity initiative on Friday afternoon after meeting with U.S. athletes in the morning. The games' opening ceremony will also take place Friday. The afternoon event will take place at the U.S. ambassador's residence in London and involve 1,000 young people — a mix of U.K. natives and the children of American servicemembers based in Britain. The Olympics "serve as a powerful opportunity to send another message to the kids in this country about the importance of staying fit," Obama said. According to a White House memo, the afternoon will feature U.S. Olympians and famous athletes such as soccer star David Beckham. Obama will also meet with Samantha Cameron, the British Prime Minister's wife, during her time in London, as well as attend a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. Read the full story here.