{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-calls-from-schatz-to-increase-snap-benefits-in-hawaii-usda-proposes-23-boost-in-benefits-to-reflect-food-costs", "Following Calls From Schatz To Increase Snap Benefits In Hawai\u2018i, USDA Proposes 2.3% Boost In Benefits To Reflect Food Costs", "2024-12-03", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Following calls for increased benefits for Hawai\u2018i families, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed updates to its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Hawai\u2018i to ensure they accurately reflect the cost of food across the state. The USDA has proposed a 2.3 percent increase in SNAP benefits for Hawai\u2018i, which would result in an estimated $40 monthly increase for a family of four.\n\n\u201cFor many in Hawai\u2018i, SNAP is a lifeline, helping families put food on the table. But to make sure this program continues to help those who rely on it, SNAP benefits need to keep up with the real cost of food across the state,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cI thank the USDA and Secretary Vilsack for working with us to update SNAP benefits for Hawai\u2018i so that those who need it can continue to access this critical federal program.\u201d\n\nFood prices in Hawai\u2018i are among the highest in the nation. Schatz worked directly with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and urged him to update its cost analysis in the state. Today\u2019s action from the USDA continues a rulemaking process to adjust benefits for Hawai\u2018i. Today, USDA is proposing a new rule to ensure benefits take into account food costs for residents across the state, and releasing a report that finds an increase in benefit if the rule is finalized. The public can submit comments through February 3, 2025.\n\nSNAP is a federal program that provides crucial nutritional benefits to low-income individuals and families that are used at stores to purchase food. It\u2019s administered at the federal level through USDA\u2019s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and at the state level in Hawai\u2018i by the Hawai\u2018i Department of Human Services. Nearly 200,000 Hawai\u2018i residents rely on SNAP.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-calls-from-schatz-to-increase-snap-benefits-in-hawaii-usda-proposes-23-boost-in-benefits-to-reflect-food-costs"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6884799115359783, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}