WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced an amendment to the Farm Bill that would add work requirement for certain recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Dean Heller (R-NV) are original co-sponsors of the amendment.
The amendment would:
*Require non-disabled SNAP recipients ages 18-59 without dependents under age 6 to work or participate in employment training programs 20 hours per week.
*Expand qualifying work programs to include apprenticeships, time-limited unpaid or volunteer work, and state approved work training programs.
*Establish a revised ineligibility process allowing one month for initial compliance and requiring a 12-month ineligibility period for the first work requirement violation and a 36-month ineligibility period for subsequent violations unless an individual obtains sufficient employment or is no longer subject to the work requirements at an earlier time.
*Allow two years for implementation and give the Secretary discretion to allow states more time if necessary.
*Allow states to opt-out of enforcing updated requirements in exchange for that state’s eligibility to obtain the federal administrative cost share for administering the SNAP program.
*Make no adjustments to funding for SNAP benefits.
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