Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Reform Act of 2017
This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to modify the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) work requirements that apply to able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs).
The bill modifies the work requirements to:
The bill also modifies the congressional declaration of policy to specify that the purpose of SNAP is to increase employment, to encourage healthy marriage, and to promote prosperous self-sufficiency (maintaining an income above the poverty level without services and benefits from the federal government).
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2996 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2996
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to modify the work
requirement applicable to able-bodied adults without dependents.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 22, 2017
Mr. Graves of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to modify the work
requirement applicable to able-bodied adults without dependents.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program Reform Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS.
(a) Declaration of Policy.--Section 2 of the Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Congress further finds that it should also be the purpose of the
supplemental nutrition assistance program to increase employment, to
encourage healthy marriage, and to promote prosperous self-sufficiency,
which means the ability of households to maintain an income above the
poverty level without services and benefits from the Federal
Government.''.
(b) Definitions.--
(1) Food.--Section 3(k) of the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(k)) is amended by inserting before the
period at the end the following: ``, except that a food, food
product, meal, or other item described in this subsection shall
be considered a food under this Act only if it is an essential
(as determined by the Secretary)''.
(2) Supervised job search.--Section 3 of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012) is amended--
(A) by redesignating subsections (t) through (v) as
subsections (u) through (w), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subsection (s) the
following:
``(t) Supervised Job Search.--The term `supervised job search'
means a job search program that has the following characteristics:
``(1) The job search occurs at an official location where
the presence and activity of the recipient can be directly
observed, supervised, and monitored.
``(2) The entry, time onsite, and exit of the recipient
from the official job search location are recorded in a manner
that prevents fraud.
``(3) The recipient is expected to remain and undertake job
search activities at the job search center.
``(4) The quantity of time the recipient is observed and
monitored engaging in job search at the official location is
recorded for purposes of compliance with the work and work
activation requirements of sections 6(o) and 30.''.
(c) Work Requirement for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents.--
Section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o))
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by
striking ``not less than 3 months (consecutive or
otherwise)'' and inserting ``more than 1 month'';
(B) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``or'' at the
end;
(C) in subparagraph (D) by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) participate in supervised job search for at
least 8 hours per week.'';
(2) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Termination.--Subparagraph (A) shall not
apply with respect to any fiscal year that begins after
the date of the enactment of the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program Reform Act of 2017.'';
(3) in paragraph (6)--
(A) in the paragraph heading by striking ``15-
PERCENT'' and inserting ``5-PERCENT'';
(B) in subparagraph (A)(ii)(IV) by striking ``3
months'' and inserting ``1 month''; and
(C) in subparagraph (D) by striking ``15 percent''
and inserting ``5 percent''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) Promoting work.--As a condition of receiving
supplemental nutrition assistance program funds under this Act,
a State agency shall provide each individual subject to the
work requirement of this subsection with the opportunity to
participate in an activity selected by the State from among the
options described in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (E) of
paragraph (2).
``(9) Penalties for inadequate state performance.--If a
State agency fails to fully comply with this section, including
the requirement to terminate the benefits of individuals who
fail to fulfill the work requirements described in paragraph
(2) during a fiscal quarter, the funding allotment of the State
for the supplemental nutrition assistance program shall be
reduced by 10 percent for the quarter that begins 180 days
after the first day of the quarter in which the noncompliance
occurred.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.
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