The U.S. Senate returns this week to discuss the federal reconciliation bill. The legislation includes hundreds of millions of dollars in funding cuts to programs that Hoosiers said they depend on to survive. Some Hoosiers are calling for U.S. Sens. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) to vote no on the legislation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved Indiana's ban on "sugary sodas" and candy from the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. Indiana is part of a national wave of nearly a dozen Republican-led states seeking restrictions in the program.

More than 600,000 Hoosiers would likely lose access to some or all of their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits under the massive federal bill approved by U.S. House Republicans Thursday.

Seven in 10 Hoosiers served by the network of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry say they skipped meals due to not having enough food.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — more commonly known as SNAP — is a federally funded program that provides food assistance to people and families with lower incomes, or no income.

Called Indiana SUN bucks, eligible families will receive a one-time payment of $120 per school-aged child. It’s to be used to buy extra groceries that often come with summer vacation.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack sent out a letter to the governors of 44 states that are not meeting federal standards for processing SNAP applications.

For the last few months, lawmakers have been debating the Farm Bill in an attempt to have a new one signed before the Sept. 30 expiration date. Talks have been halted due to the pending government shutdown, making the bill likely to expire.

The goal of the Fresh Bucks program is to make fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible for SNAP recipients.