Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- strip (something) from (something) / strɪp frʌm / (phrasal v.) – to remove or take something away, especially something important
Example:The school is stripping art classes from the curriculum because of budget cuts, disappointing many students.
- vocal / ˈvoʊ kəl / (adj.) – often expressing opinions or feelings openly
Example:Many people are vocal on social media. They express their opinions online about current events.
- administer / ædˈmɪn ə stər / (v.) – to manage or organize something
Example:The scholarship program is administered by the university, which decides who will receive financial aid.
- autonomy / ɔˈtɒn ə mi / (n.) – a person’s ability to make his/her own decision without being in someone else’s control
Example:The teacher encourages students to have autonomy in their learning by letting them choose their own projects.
- dignity / ˈdɪg nɪ ti / (n.) – the quality of being respected and valued
Example:The workers demanded to be treated with dignity. They asked for fair salaries and better working conditions.
Article
Read the text below.
A push to ban sugary drinks, candy and more from the U.S. program that helps low-income families pay for nutritious food has been tried before—but it may soon get a boost from new Trump administration officials.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly confirmed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, and Brooke Rollins, the new Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary, have both signaled that they favor stripping such treats from SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Kennedy has been most vocal, calling for the government to stop allowing the nearly $113 billion program that serves about 42 million Americans to use benefits to pay for “soda or processed foods.”
But removing certain foods from SNAP—known for years as food stamps—isn’t as simple as it sounds.
The program is run by the USDA, not HHS, and is administered through individual states. It is authorized by the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which says SNAP benefits can be used for “any food or food product intended for human consumption,” except alcohol, tobacco and hot foods, including those prepared for immediate consumption.
Excluding any foods would require Congress to change the law—or for states to submit waivers to restrict purchases. Over the past 20 years, lawmakers in several states have proposed stopping SNAP from paying for bottled water, soda, chips, ice cream, decorated cakes and “luxury meats” like steak.
In the past, Agriculture Department officials rejected the waivers, saying in a 2007 paper that no clear standards exist to define foods “as good or bad, or healthy or not healthy.” In addition, restrictions would be difficult to implement, complicated and costly. And they might not change recipients’ food purchases or reduce conditions such as obesity.
Anti-hunger advocates point to research that shows SNAP recipients are no more likely than other low-income Americans to buy sugary drinks or snack foods. And they say that limiting food choices undermines the autonomy and dignity of people who receive, on average, about $192 a month—about $6.31 per day.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Do you think it’s fair for the government to decide what low-income families can buy with food assistance? Why or why not? Why do you think it’s important for low-income families to have the same food choices, even unhealthy ones, as everyone else? Discuss.
- In your opinion, should there be limits on buying “luxury” food with government assistance? Why or why not? How do you define “necessary” and “luxury” foods? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Anti-hunger advocates say that limiting food choices undermines the autonomy and dignity of people who receive the assistance. How do you think food restrictions impact a person’s sense of independence and dignity? How would you feel if your food choices were controlled by someone else? Discuss.
- Do you think banning unhealthy foods would actually change people’s eating habits? Why or why not? What do you think would be a more effective way of encouraging people to eat healthy (ex. education about food, increasing the cost of unhealthy foods)? Discuss.
