OPINION: A better plan for Alaska food security

We Alaskans are busy. With beautiful sunny days, there’s so much food to harvest in our brief summer and fall. Gardens are thriving, the fish are running, whales are migrating offshore and wildlife is growing to be ready for fall hunts.

When the snow melts, food is plentiful. Alaskans have lots to eat.

Or do they?

Alaska’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a vital food security resource for many working Alaskans and families. This federal program gives a hand up in hard times for about one in eight Alaskans across our state.

However, COVID-related federal policy changes created challenges for SNAP in Alaska. During the pandemic, any SNAP recipient, new or continuing, automatically received the financial assistance for food. But with the ending of the federal public health emergency, all states and territories were required to review every single SNAP applicant to assess eligibility. Alaska fell behind.

Staffing for the Division of Public Assistance had dwindled. A small amount of people processing a flood of applications meant long months of delays for people applying for SNAP benefits. The Division went to great lengths to staff up and upgrade their technology — and they have now caught up on providing the benefits correctly to applicants. However, because of faltering in meeting specific federal guidelines, financial penalties are being levied on the state which we hope can be remedied with reconsideration of the state’s data.

But wait — there’s good news on this front. We, Rep. Genevieve Mina and Sen. Cathy Giessel, teamed up to pass a legislative improvement for food security assistance for Alaskans. Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE, a convoluted federal name) is a program that helps folks needing food assistance to get it much more quickly, with less bureaucratic paperwork and delay. At the same time, BBCE helps provide an “offramp” from the program and back to self-sustainability and stability. Forty-two other states have already implemented BBCE programs.

While BBCE will go into effect in the summer of 2025, the Division has continued efforts to increase efficiencies in the SNAP process, such extending recertification periods, waiving unnecessary interviews and making the application available online. Despite staffing challenges, these small changes save time for state workers and help Alaskans receive timely assistance. Instead of fines, the federal government should support our state’s continued efforts to improve SNAP, and ensure that every Alaskan can eat hearty and enjoy all the riches and harvests of our state.

Right now, the average SNAP monthly household benefit is $271 (2023 nominal dollars), which is about $8.90 per household member per day. While the new BBCE will provide similar support, the BBCE program allows Alaskans to work their way out of assistance by reducing the benefits cliff and eliminating the asset test. They will be allowed to accept pay raises, own vehicles to get to work, and purchase transportation that facilitates subsistence hunting. In short, BBCE will allow Alaskans a path out of poverty and forward to self-sufficiency.

Most importantly, improving access to SNAP helps families purchase healthy ingredients and eat fresh produce. We know that adequate food and nutrition are fundamental in preventing and treating chronic conditions. Food security, with nutritious food, can fill the role of “food as medicine” for Alaskans battling diabetes or obesity. Prevention and effective lifestyle treatments save lives and save money. Good nutrition is part of that lifestyle medicine.

We are proud to sponsor the BBCE legislation and see the governor’s supportive signature on HB 344. We look forward to timely food security for Alaskans and their families, efficient operations by the Department of Health and opportunity for Alaskans to return to self-sufficiency.

Rep. Genevieve Mina (D) is a member of the Alaska House Minority Coalition representing House District 19. Sen. Cathy Giessel (R) represents Senate District E and is the Majority Leader for the Senate Bipartisan Majority Coalition.

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