Lawmakers in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature are promoting legislation to “Make America Healthy Again.”

The most recent legislation came on Thursday, when state Sen. Jonathan Lindsey introduced two bills to improve health outcomes for Michiganders.

Senate Bill 227, titled the Social Welfare Act, would task the state with seeking a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to remove the ability to purchase pop in Michigan using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or food stamps.

“The key word when it comes to SNAP is nutrition,” Lindsey said in a statement. “Soda and its high sugar content have become a serious detriment to the health of Michiganders. These drinks possess no nutritional value.”

SB 227 would require the state to ban pop from SNAP benefits if the waiver is granted, which would apply to any nonalcoholic beverage that contains natural or artificial sweeteners, but does not include milk, milk substitutes, or beverages with at least 50% vegetable or fruit juice.

“If the United States Department of Agriculture does not grant the waiver requested under this subsection, the department shall request the waiver annually until the waiver is granted,” according to the bill.

State Rep. Brad Paquette, R-Niles, introduced the same legislation, House Bill 4305, in late March.

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“Michigan taxpayers should not be required to fund poor food consumption,” Paquette said in a statement. “This legislation is in no way calling for low-income individuals to be stripped of the assistance they current receive to feed themselves and their families, but we have to recognize that this assistance is a privilege that comes at the expense of taxpaying workers.

“We would ensure that SNAP beneficiaries are not using this program in a way that is both exorbitant and palpably harmful to themselves,” he said.

In fiscal year 2024, about 1,474,400 Michigan residents, or roughly 15%, relied on SNAP benefits, slightly above the national average of 12%, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Center analysis of data from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service shows SNAP participants in Michigan received $3.06 billion in benefits last year, when benefits were increased from about $4.80 per person per day to $6.20.

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The average monthly benefit for all households in 2022 was $270, while it was $474 for households with children, though those figures do not include temporary pandemic-related SNAP benefits that were still in effect in 2022.

The SNAP benefits are distributed through electronic benefit transfer cards that can be used to purchase food only at 261,400 locations nationwide, including 9,800 in Michigan.

“Taxpayer dollars should provide assistance for those in need to obtain food and drink that brings nourishment to the body,” Paquette said. “Pop or soda has zero nutritional benefit and therefore should not be purchasable under this assistance program.”

SB 227 was referred to the Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services, while HB 4305 was sent to the House Committee on Health Policy.

Lindsey also introduced Senate Bill 228 on Thursday to prohibit Michigan schools from selling or serving foods with harmful additives or dyes.

SB 228 specifically lists four ingredients and five dyes that would be banned beginning July 1, 2026, if approved: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, Red 40, Green 3, Blude 1, Blude 2, and Yellow 6.

Lindsey noted Red 40, for example, is linked to exacerbated ADHD symptoms in children and has been found to cause tumors in test mice.

“Removing these harmful chemicals from our schools is a great first step to protect Michigan’s children,” he said.

SB 228 is pending in the House Committee on Education.