Today, Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in support of the proposed rule to enforce work requirements for SNAP Benefits. There were 62 Members of Congress who signed the letter in support of the proposed rule as well.

“This proposed rule is long overdue,” said Rep. Hern. “For decades, we have let unchecked spenders in Congress and the White House turn SNAP into a crippling dependency that it was never meant to be.

“I know firsthand what happens to a family when the adult becomes dependent on food stamps,” continued Hern. “Because of my stepfather’s unwillingness to work, I grew up on food stamps until I was 18 years old. It’s not a sustainable lifestyle and certainly not one we should be subsidizing. President Reagan once said that the best social program was a job. It’s just as true today as it was then. Let’s get Americans back to work and restore our people to self-sufficiency.”

Background Information:

When the stricter work requirements were removed from the 2018 Farm Bill, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced a proposed rule to tighten SNAP’s work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) between the ages of 18 and 49.

Under the current requirements, ABAWDs must work or participate in a training program at least 20 hours a week to receive benefits for more than three months over a 36-month period. However, states may request waivers for areas without sufficient jobs for the time requirement. As a result of these state waivers, nearly three-fourths of those on food stamp rolls in 2016 were not working.

With a strong economy coming out of 2018 and a strong outlook for 2019, areas with an unemployment rate of just 5 percent, a level historically known as full employment, could be eligible for a waiver on the work requirement. Thirty-six states currently waive the work requirements for some or all of the ABAWD population.

In December, Secretary Perdue said, “these waivers weaken states’ ability to move the ABAWD population to long-term sufficiency because they do not require ABAWDs to engage in work and work training.”

The proposed rule is intended to move ABAWDs towards self-sufficiency through work and restore the original intent of SNAP, to assist and support families in difficult times. SNAP was never meant to be a way of life.

Joining Rep. Hern on the letter are:

• Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK-04)
• Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK-02)
• Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS-01)
• Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC-11)
• Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX-08)
• Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA-04)
• Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX-36)
• Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL-06)
• Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL)
• Rep. Van Taylor (R-TX-03)
• Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH-04)
• Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL-01)
• Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD-01)
• Rep. John Joyce (R-PA-13)
• Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX-26)
• Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH-07)
• Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX-04)
• Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND-AL)
• Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC-05)
• Rep. Ron Wright (R-TX-06)
• Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA-10)
• Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS-01)
• Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL-05)
• Rep. Alexander Mooney (R-WV-02)
• Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC-03)
• Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL-12)
• Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ-06)
• Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO-08)
• Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-02)
• Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-06)
• Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX-25)
• Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS-03)
• Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL-01)
• Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX-14)
• Rep. Steve King (R-IA-04)
• Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04)
• Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR-04)
• Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL-04)
• Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL-03)
• Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX-05)
• Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI-06)
• Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL-19)
• Rep. Gregory Steube (R-FL-17)
• Rep. Daniel Meuser (R-PA-09)
• Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH-06)
• Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA-11)
• Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS-04)
• Rep. Mark Green (R-TN-07)
• Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN-02)
• Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO-04)
• Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC-06)
• Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI-04)
• Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI-01)
• Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV-03)
• Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC-07)
• Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-MN-01)
• Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA-06)
• Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH-08)
• Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH-01)
• Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH-16)
• Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-MI-10)
• Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA-06)
• Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14)
• Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX-27)

You can find a copy of the letter here.

Additional Resources:

• USDA Fact Sheet: SNAP Requirements for ABAWDs
• Proposed Rule: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents

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