Congressman Dan Goldman Pushes to Protect Food Delivery Workers

The ‘Food and Nutrition Delivery Safety Act’ Would Require SNAP Authorized Retailers to Provide Fair Wages, Ensure Food is Delivered Safely

Read the Bill Here

Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02) in introducing the ‘Food and Nutrition Delivery Safety Act’ to require authorized Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers to pay delivery workers good wages, ensure SNAP groceries are delivered safely, and protect SNAP users’ online data.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) makes the final determination as to which retailers are designated as authorized SNAP retailers. While the USDA has recently begun authorizing online and delivery for SNAP purchases, there is currently no requirement for food to be delivered safely or for workers to be paid well once retailers are given this designation.

“Delivery workers play a crucial role in our post-COVID economy – it’s essential that they receive fair wages and have workplace safety guarantees,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “We must ensure delivery workers are afforded the same workplace protections as other employees. By pushing for higher standards for authorized SNAP retailers, we can begin to extend workplace protections to workers in the gig economy who have been excluded.”

The Food and Nutrition Delivery Safety Act would require the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), in collaboration with FDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, to establish two sets of standards for authorized SNAP retailers. The first standards are for the safe and secure online use of websites or apps used to purchase food through SNAP to support the user’s digital protection/cybersecurity.

The second standards aim to promote fair and safe working conditions – including paying prevailing wages – and to keep food safe and secure during delivery. This legislation would also direct FNS to issue regulations on reporting requirements for SNAP retail participants.

Congressman Goldman is committed to protecting the rights of American workers.

In August, Congressman Goldman cosponsored the ‘Protecting America's Meatpacking Workers Act,’ which addresses high injury rates and worker exploitation in the meatpacking industry.

Earlier this month, Goldman cosponsored the ‘Language Access for Workers Act’ to create a grant program under the Department of Labor (DOL) to provide language access and translation services directly to employees.

Congressman Dan Goldman is a member of the Congressional Labor Caucus and is a proud sponsor of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act which protects workers rights to unionize in the workplace.

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