[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4432-S4433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3141. Mr. COTTON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill H.R. 2, to provide for the reform and continuation of 
agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture 
through fiscal year 2023, and for other purposes; which was ordered to 
lie on the table; as follows:

       In section 4103(a)(1), redesignate subparagraphs (A) and 
     (B) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively.
       In section 4103(a)(1), insert before subparagraph (B) (as 
     so redesignated) the following:
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A)--

       (I) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``over the age of 15 and under the age of 60'' and inserting 
     ``over the age of 18 and under the age of 62'';
       (II) in clause (iv), by inserting ``, in accordance with 
     subparagraph (D)(iii)'' before the semicolon;
       (III) in clause (v)(II), by striking ``30 hours per week; 
     or'' and inserting ``80 hours per month for a period of not 
     fewer than 300 days during a calendar year;''; and
       (IV) in clause (vi), by striking ``20.'' and inserting the 
     following: ``20; or

       ``(vii) fails to secure income or earnings of at least $736 
     per month, as indexed for United States dollar inflation from 
     the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 
     2018 (as measured by the Consumer Price Index), for a period 
     of not fewer than 300 days during a calendar year.'';
       (ii) in subparagraph (C)--

       (I) in each of clauses (i) through (iii), by inserting 
     ``during a single, short-term period'' after ``program under 
     subparagraph (A)'' each place it appears;
       (II) in each of clauses (i) and (ii), by redesignating 
     subclauses (I) through (III) as items (aa) through (cc), 
     respectively, and indenting the items appropriately;
       (III) in clause (iii), by redesignating subclauses (I) 
     through (IV) as items (aa) through (dd), respectively, and 
     indenting the items appropriately;
       (IV) by redesignating clauses (i) through (iii) as 
     subclauses (II) through (IV), respectively, and indenting the 
     subclauses appropriately;
       (V) by inserting before subclause (II) (as so redesignated) 
     the following:

       ``(i) Single, short-term period.--

       ``(I) Definition of single, short-term period.--In this 
     clause, the term `single, short-term period' means a period 
     of not more than 90 consecutive days during any 1 calendar 
     year.''; and
       (VI) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(ii) Longer-term period.--

       ``(I) In general.--An individual who becomes ineligible to 
     participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program 
     under subparagraph (A) for a period of longer than 90 
     consecutive days during a single calendar year shall remain 
     ineligible to participate in that program for the duration of 
     that calendar year.
       ``(II) Reapplication.--An individual who is ineligible to 
     participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program 
     under subclause (I) for the duration of a calendar year may 
     submit an application to participate in the program beginning 
     on January 1 of the following calendar year.''; and

       (iii) in subparagraph (D)(iii)--

       (I) in the clause heading, by striking ``Determination by'' 
     and inserting ``Authority of'';
       (II) in subclause (II), by striking ``may not use a 
     meaning'' and inserting the following: ``may not--

       ``(aa) establish any standard or requirement that is less 
     stringent than a comparable standard or requirement in effect 
     under this subsection; or
       ``(bb) use a meaning''; and

       (III) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(III) Reporting and evaluations.--Each State agency shall 
     establish procedures by which, not less frequently than once 
     each month--

       ``(aa) individuals in the applicable State who are 
     receiving benefits under the supplemental nutrition 
     assistance program shall submit to the State agency 
     documentation sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the 
     work requirements of this subsection; and
       ``(bb) the State agency shall evaluate the activities 
     carried out by individuals to achieve compliance with those 
     requirements.

       ``(IV) Effect of subsection.--Nothing in this subsection 
     prevents a State agency from establishing a standard, 
     requirement, meaning, procedure, or determination that is 
     more stringent than a comparable standard, requirement, 
     meaning, procedure, or determination in effect under this 
     subsection.'';

       In section 4103(a)(1), in subparagraph (B) (as so 
     redesignated), strike clauses (iii) and (iv) and insert the 
     following:
       (iii) by striking ``(E) employed'' and all that follows 
     through ``half-time basis.'' and inserting the following:
       ``(v) for a period of not fewer than 300 days during a 
     calendar year--

       ``(I) employed a minimum of 80 hours per month; or
       ``(II) receiving monthly earnings equal to not less than 
     $736, as indexed for United States dollar inflation from the 
     date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 
     (as measured by the Consumer Price Index);

       ``(vi) an elderly or disabled member of a household;
       ``(vii) a woman who--

       ``(I) is pregnant; or
       ``(II) gave birth during the preceding 60-day period;

       ``(viii) certified by a medical professional as being--

       ``(I) incapacitated in the short term, including due to an 
     acute medical condition; or
       ``(II) mentally or physically unfit to meet applicable work 
     requirements; or

       ``(ix) during the period beginning on the date of enactment 
     of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and ending on 
     December 31, 2018, under the age of 30.'';
       In section 4103(a)(1), in subparagraph (B) (as so 
     redesignated), redesignate clauses (v) through (ix) as 
     clauses (iv) through (viii), respectively.
       In section 4103(a)(1), in subparagraph (C) (as so 
     redesignated), strike ``(as amended by subparagraph (A))'' 
     and inserting ``(as amended by subparagraphs (A) and (B))''.
       In section 4103(b)(2), redesignate subparagraphs (D) and 
     (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively.
       In section 4103(b)(2), insert after subparagraph (C) the 
     following:
       (D) by inserting after subclause (IX) (as so redesignated) 
     the following:

       ``(X) A community service program.'';

[[Page S4433]]

       In section 4103(b)(3), strike subparagraph (C) and insert 
     the following:
       (C) adding at the end the following:
       ``(iii) Application to workforce partnerships.--To the 
     extent that a State agency requires an individual to 
     participate in an employment and training program, the State 
     agency shall consider an individual participating in a 
     workforce partnership to be in compliance with the employment 
     and training requirements.
       ``(iv) E-verify.--The Secretary shall not approve an 
     employment and training program of a State agency unless the 
     Secretary determines that the employment and training program 
     establishes and enforces a requirement that each participant 
     in the employment and training program shall be permitted to 
     engage in employment in the United States on the basis of the 
     status of the participant, as determined under the employment 
     verification system in effect under section 274A of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a).'';
                                 ______