Letter to the Hon. Sonny Perdue, Secretary of the Dept. of Agriculture - Casey Leads Bipartisan Push to Expand Delivery for SNAP Recipients During Pandemic

Letter

Dear Secretary Perdue:

We write today to inquire about the actions USDA is taking to expand the delivery options
available to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. The COVID-19
pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented rise in unemployment and a subsequent increase in
demand for food assistance. At the same time, social distancing guidelines and stay at home
orders have made it challenging -- and unsafe -- for many individuals to travel to purchase food.
This is especially true for seniors and immunocompromised individuals who are at higher risk of
serious illness from COVID-19, as well as individuals with disabilities and families who lack
reliable transportation. We believe that no individual or family should be disadvantaged simply
because they rely on SNAP benefits to access the food they need.

We appreciate USDA's work to expedite the process through which states and retailers are able
to participate in the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. For participating states, this innovative
program provides an opportunity to increase and streamline delivery options, and the
Department's efforts to rapidly expand the pilot is one important component of the work that is
needed to expand SNAP recipients' access to delivery services. We thank you for developing the
simplified template for states to enroll as well as for your work to increase participation from
additional retailers. In addition to these efforts to expand the Online Purchasing Pilot, we believe
that it is also critical to further expand and maximize the alternative mechanisms that exist to
facilitate delivery for SNAP participants.

During this public health and economic crisis, it is vital that USDA do everything it can to
continue to further expand delivery and curbside pickup options for SNAP recipients. These
tools not only benefit and protect SNAP participants, but they are also essential for the economic
benefits that SNAP purchases provide to businesses, farmers and local communities. We ask that
you respond to the following questions by May 15, 2020.

1. Have you taken any steps to expand the ability of authorized SNAP retailers to access
mobile/wireless Point of Sale (POS) devices for the purpose of delivery and curbside
pickup?
a. How are you working with States and authorized retailers to provide them with
information regarding the option to offer delivery services to SNAP participants if
they have mobile/wireless POS devices?
b. Have you taken any steps to help retailers interested in offering delivery service to
acquire mobile POS or identify partners with delivery capabilities?
c. How are you working with retailers exempt from the requirement to pay for their
EBT equipment and service (farmers markets, direct marketing farmers, military
commissaries, non-profit buying cooperatives) to expand delivery or access to
mobile devices?
2. What steps have you taken to notify SNAP recipients of the options that currently exist
for online ordering, delivery and pickup options?
Are you able to compile a centralized list of the retailers that provide these
options, or work with the states to compile them by state?
3. How is USDA working to authorize direct to consumer retailers (that have delivery
capabilities) to accept SNAP benefits?
a. How long is it taking to authorize additional retailers who have become interested
in authorization as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?
b. What barriers have you encountered to expediting this process as interest in
authorization continues to grow?
4. Many SNAP participants, especially in rural areas, lack reliable access to internet
services. Has USDA issued any guidance or best practices for retailers about how to
protect SNAP participants from fraud while also offering alternatives to online ordering
such as placing orders over the phone?
5. Many older adults do not have experience shopping for groceries online, and low-income
older adults who order groceries for delivery or pick up do so less frequently than those
of higher incomes. Has USDA has provided guidance to retailers on providing easy to
follow instruction or support for SNAP participants who may not have previous
experience shopping online?
6. How are you working to expand the technical support available to farmers, farmers
markets and food hubs to offer delivery services to SNAP participants?
a. How many, and which, states currently utilize USDA funding to support farmers
and farmers markets in accessing mobile/wireless POS devices and services? How
many states include requirements for no-cost wireless equipment for exempt
entities in their EBT state processing contracts?
b. What funding do you have available for FY20 to support mobile/wireless POS
equipment and services for farmers markets and direct market farmers through the
state agencies?
7. What funding sources and technical assistance are available to support mobile/wireless
POS equipment through the States for non-exempt retailers during the COVID-19
pandemic?
8. What steps are you taking to simplify the process and identify cost-saving solutions to
expedite the adoption of mobile/wireless POS processing capacity for all retailers?
9. As interest and demand continues to grow for SNAP delivery services, how is USDA
engaging with other federal agencies around recommended health precaution and
protection for retailers, consumers and delivery workers?

We thank you for your immediate attention to these questions.

Sincerely,