What This Bill Does
This bill changes rules for people getting benefits from SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps). It removes an exception that paused work requirements during the coronavirus pandemic and creates new, standardized work rules for able-bodied adults without dependents.
Who It Affects
Able-bodied adults without dependents who receive SNAP benefits. State agencies that administer SNAP.
Key Provisions
• Removes an exception that paused work requirements for SNAP participants during the coronavirus pandemic (Sec. 2)
• Changes the threshold for states from 50 percent to 65 percent when deciding whether to apply work requirements to certain groups (Sec. 3)
• Limits the definition of "child" to those under 7 years of age for purposes of work requirement exemptions (Sec. 3)
• Reduces a 12-month allowance for waivers (a temporary permission to skip requirements) to 3 months (Sec. 3)
What Changes
If this becomes law, able-bodied adults without dependents would face reinstated work requirements for SNAP. States would use a new 65 percent threshold instead of 50 percent when applying work rules. The waiver period that lets states temporarily skip work requirements would shrink from 12 months to 3 months.
Important Definitions
Able-bodied adults: Not defined in bill text.
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 1062
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to restore and standardize
work requirements for able-bodied adults enrolled in the supplemental
nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 29, 2023
Mr. KENNEDY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
A BILL
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to restore
and standardize work requirements for able-bodied adults
enrolled in the supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Jobs and Opportunities
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for SNAP Act of 2023’’.
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•S 1062 IS
SEC. 2. RESTORING THE WORK REQUIREMENT FOR ABLE-
1
BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS IN
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THE
SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION
ASSIST-
3
ANCE PROGRAM.
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Section 2301 of the Families First Coronavirus Re-
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sponse Act (7 U.S.C. 2011 note; Public Law 116–127)
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is repealed.
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SEC. 3. STANDARDIZING WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR ABLE-
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BODIED ADULTS IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NU-
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TRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6(o) of the Food and Nu-
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trition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)) is amended—
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(1) in paragraph (3)—
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(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘50’’
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and inserting ‘‘65’’; and
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(B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting
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‘‘under 7 years of age’’ after ‘‘child’’;
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(2) by striking paragraph (4);
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(3) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through
19
(7) as paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively; and
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(4) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)—
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(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii)—
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(i) by striking subclause (II);
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(ii) by redesignating subclauses (III)
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through (V) as subclauses (II) through
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(IV), respectively; and
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•S 1062 IS
(iii) in subclause (IV) (as so redesig-
1
nated), by striking ‘‘(5)’’ and inserting
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‘‘(4)’’;
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(B) in subparagraph (E)—
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(i) by striking ‘‘12’’ and inserting
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‘‘3’’; and
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(ii) by striking ‘‘caseload and’’ and all
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that follows through the period at the end
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and inserting ‘‘caseload.’’; and
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(C) in subparagraph (G), by inserting
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‘‘that begins before the date of enactment of
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the Jobs and Opportunities for SNAP Act of
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2023’’ after ‘‘subsequent fiscal year’’.
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(b)
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section
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16(h)(1)(E)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
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U.S.C. 2025(h)(1)(E)(ii)) is amended—
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(1) in subclause (II), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the
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end;
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(2) by striking subclause (III);
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(3) by redesignating subclause (IV) as sub-
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clause (III); and
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(4) in subclause (III) (as so redesignated), by
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striking ‘‘6(o)(6)’’ and inserting ‘‘6(o)(5)’’.
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Æ
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