What This Bill Does
This bill modifies work requirements for people receiving food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It also applies similar work requirements to people receiving public housing and rental assistance. The bill removes a previous waiver that had suspended these work requirements.
Who It Affects
- People receiving SNAP benefits (food assistance)
- Parents and household members responsible for dependent children
- People receiving public housing assistance
- People receiving tenant-based rental assistance (rental help from the government)
- Married individuals living with spouses who meet work requirements
Key Provisions
- Removes the waiver that previously allowed states to suspend work requirements for SNAP (Sec. 2(a))
- Changes the work requirement timeframe to 6 months (either consecutive or non-consecutive) for parents or household members caring for dependent children, instead of a different standard (Sec. 2(b)(1)(A))
- Increases the minimum work hours required from 50 hours per week to 60 hours per week (Sec. 2(b)(1)(B))
- Applies work requirements from SNAP law to individuals living in public housing (Sec. 3(a))
- Applies work requirements from SNAP law to individuals receiving tenant-based rental assistance (Sec. 3(b))
What Changes
If this bill becomes law, people receiving SNAP benefits will need to work 60 hours per week instead of 50 hours per week. Parents or caregivers will need to meet work requirements for 6 months instead of following other rules. These same work requirements will now apply to people receiving public housing and rental assistance through the government.
Important Definitions
- Dependent child: a child for whom a household member has responsibility
- Dependent individual: a person who relies on another person for support
- Tenant-based rental assistance: government help paying for rental housing
- Public housing: housing provided or owned by the government
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 39
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to modify work requirements
under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JANUARY 24 (legislative day, JANUARY 3), 2023
Mr. SCOTT of Florida 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 modify
work requirements under the supplemental nutrition as-
sistance program, 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 ‘‘Let’s Get to Work
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Act of 2023’’.
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SEC. 2. SNAP WORK REQUIREMENTS.
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(a) REPEAL OF WAIVER.—Section 2301 of the Fami-
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lies First Coronavirus Response Act (7 U.S.C. 2011 note;
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Public Law 116–127) is repealed.
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(b) WORK REQUIREMENTS.—
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•S 39 IS
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 6(o) of the Food
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and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)) is
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amended—
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(A) in paragraph (2), in the matter pre-
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ceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘, or, in
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the case of a parent or other member of a
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household with responsibility for a dependent
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child, 6 months (consecutive or otherwise),’’ be-
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fore ‘‘during which’’;
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(B) in paragraph (3)—
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(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
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‘‘50’’ and inserting ‘‘60’’;
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(ii) in subparagraph (C), by adding
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‘‘under 6 years of age’’ before the semi-
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colon at the end;
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(iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking
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‘‘or’’ at the end after the semicolon;
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(iv) in subparagraph (E), by striking
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the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’;
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and
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(v) by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(F)(i) responsible for a dependent indi-
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vidual; and
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•S 39 IS
‘‘(ii) married to, and resides with, an indi-
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vidual who is in compliance with the require-
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ments of paragraph (2).’’; and
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(C) in paragraph (6)—
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(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking
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‘‘(H)’’ and inserting ‘‘(G)’’;
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(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
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‘‘(F) and (H)’’ and inserting ‘‘(E) and
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(G)’’;
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(iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking
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‘‘(F) through (H)’’ and inserting ‘‘(E)
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through (G)’’;
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(iv) by striking subparagraph (E);
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(v) by redesignating subparagraphs
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(F) through (H) as subparagraphs (E)
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through (G), respectively; and
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(vi) in subparagraph (E) (as so redes-
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ignated), by striking ‘‘(C), (D), or (E)’’
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and inserting ‘‘(C) or (D)’’.
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(2)
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section
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16(h)(1)(E)(ii)(I) of the Food and Nutrition Act of
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2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)(1)(E)(ii)(I)) is amended by
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striking ‘‘3-month period’’ and inserting ‘‘3-month
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or 6-month period, as applicable,’’.
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•S 39 IS
SEC. 3. WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND
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TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
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(a) PUBLIC HOUSING.—Section 3 of the United
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States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a) is amend-
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ed by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(e) WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR FAMILIES.—The re-
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quirements described in section 6(o) of the Food and Nu-
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trition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)) shall apply with
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respect to any individual who—
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‘‘(1) is a member of a family residing in a pub-
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lic housing dwelling; and
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‘‘(2) is not exempted from those requirements
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under paragraph (3) of such section.’’.
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(b) TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE.—Section
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8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
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1437f(o)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(22) WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR FAMILIES.—
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The requirements described in section 6(o) of the
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Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o))
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shall apply with respect to any individual who—
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‘‘(A) is a member of a family receiving ten-
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ant-based assistance; and
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‘‘(B) is not exempted from those require-
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ments under paragraph (3) of such section.’’.
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Æ
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