Farm bill stirs up controversy over changes to SNAP
For almost six hours on April 18 the U.S. House Agriculture Committee debated and amended the initial draft of the 2018 Farm Bill—Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2). Following the markup session, the bill passed through the House Committee on Agriculture on a party line vote of 26–20.
For almost six hours on April 18 the U.S. House Agriculture Committee debated and amended the initial draft of the 2018 Farm Bill—Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2). Following the markup session, the bill passed through the House Committee on Agriculture on a party line vote of 26–20. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), was unveiled last week and while most aspects of the bill are noncontroversial and consistent with previous bills, provisions that expand work requirements for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients have Democrats up in arms. SNAP helps more than 40 million individuals, and nutrition programs account for approximately 80% of the cost of the current farm bill.
Currently, adults aged 18–59 are required to work part time or agree to accept a job if they’re offered one. Stricter rules apply to able-bodied adults without dependents aged 18–49, who are subject to a three-month limit of benefits unless they meet a work requirement of 80 hours per month. Under the new bill, that requirement would be expanded to apply to all work-capable adults, mandating that they either work or participate in work training for 20 hours per week except for seniors, pregnant women, caretakers of children aged 6 and younger, or people with disabilities. The new work requirements would take effect in 2021 and increase to 25 hours per week in 2026. Each new SNAP recipient would have one month to comply with the rule.
Democrats say the tougher work requirements would drive millions of people off the program. Meanwhile, Republicans say the work requirements are meant to assist those who may have fallen on hard times get back on their feet, off public assistance, and into the workforce.
“This bill attempts to change SNAP from a feeding program to a work program,” commented House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.). “The bill rejects the testimony of 89 witnesses, and instead includes ideological language that will force people off SNAP to pay for massive state bureaucracies that won’t work and are a waste of money. This legislation is based on false perceptions and ignores reality.”
“I commend Chairman Conaway and the House Committee on Agriculture for passing a comprehensive Farm Bill out of the Committee today,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “The bill closely aligns with the Farm Bill Principles released by USDA in January and is nearly identical to the legislation first introduced last week … As the bill heads to the floor, I hope the House recognizes the long-term certainty it provides for America’s farmers, just as it preserves nutrition programs for people who need help feeding themselves and their families. USDA stands ready to provide technical assistance as the bill progresses in the House, and we look forward to working with our friends in the Senate as well. As Republicans and Democrats have farm interests in their own districts and states, we are hopeful that the 2018 Farm Bill can move forward in a bipartisan manner.”
The bill will now go to the full U.S. House of Representatives for its consideration.
H.R. 2 (pdf)
Section-by-section summary of H.R. 2 (pdf)