November 20, 2025
Ms. Ernst introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to reform the restaurant meals program, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the McStopping Chains from Using SNAP EBT to Make Entrees Act of 2025
or the McSCUSE ME Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Restaurant meals program
Section 9(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2018(h)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
by striking determines that the participation
and inserting the following:
determines that—
(A)
the private establishment is a retail food store that—
(i)
operates a prepared food section, hot bar, or deli counter;
(ii)
is not primarily engaged in the sale of quick-service or fast-food items, as determined by the Secretary; and
(iii)
meets all State and local food safety and health standards applicable to grocery stores or supermarkets; and
(B)
the participation;
(2)
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (6);
(3)
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
(3) Eligible meals
Benefits may be redeemed under the program under this subsection from a private establishment described in paragraph (2)(A) only for meals from a prepared food section, hot bar, or deli counter that—
(A)
are intended for immediate consumption; and
(B)
contain at least—
(i)
1 fruit or vegetable; and
(ii)
1 protein, as defined by the Secretary.
(4) Single authorization
(A) In general
A retail food store authorized under section 9 shall not be required to obtain a separate authorization for participating in the program under this section.
(B) EBT systems
The Secretary shall ensure that State agencies maintain or update EBT card coding and retailer coding systems necessary to restrict redemption of benefits under this subsection to eligible households.
(5) Spousal exclusion
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a spouse of an individual eligible for benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program shall not be eligible to participate in the program under this subsection.; and
(4)
in paragraph (6) (as so redesignated), by striking Senate a report on the effectiveness of a
and inserting the following:
Senate, and make publicly available, a report describing—
(A)
the number of private establishments participating in the program under this subsection;
(B)
for each private establishment participating in the program under this subsection—
(i)
the name and location of the private establishment; and
(ii)
the amount of benefits redeemed at the private establishment;
(C)
the number of individuals receiving benefits under the program under this subsection;
(D)
the costs of the program under this subsection; and
(E)
the effectiveness of the