[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2483]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             INTRODUCTION OF THE SNAP WORK OPPORTUNITY ACT

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                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 2015

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, due to a policy oversight, 1 million 
adults who are looking for work but are unsuccessful at risk to lose 
their eligibility for Supplement Nutrition Assistance Benefits in 2016. 
My Colleague Representative Suzan DelBene and I are introducing simple 
legislation today that would address this issue, and ensure no one 
falls through the cracks. Our bill is called the SNAP Work Opportunity 
Act.
  The SNAP work requirement was established on the assumption that 
anyone who couldn't find work would take part in a job training or 
workfare program in order to continue receiving SNAP benefits. 
Unfortunately, as former President Clinton highlighted when he signed 
the bill into law, there is not also a requirement for states to offer 
their unemployed citizens an opportunity to participate in a job 
training or workfare program. While many states may have qualifying 
programs, only five states guarantee a spot to those adults subject to 
the work requirement. As a result, even if someone is actively looking 
for work but can't find it, they can lose their eligibility for SNAP 
benefits.
  Recently, this issue hasn't been at the forefront. The economic 
downturn has made states eligible for waivers to the work requirement 
because of high and sustained in-state unemployment. Almost all 
states--42--are eligible for and using a waiver in 2015. However, the 
economy's continued growth is expected to prevent most states from 
qualifying for the waivers in 2016. While economic growth is a great 
thing, it doesn't mean that everyone has a job nor does it mean that 
everyone looking for a job is able to get one. As a result of the loss 
of waivers, the CBPP predicts more than 1 million adults who are unable 
to find jobs and aren't offered an opportunity to take part in a job 
training or workfare program could lose their eligibility for SNAP 
benefits in 2016.
  The SNAP Work Opportunity Act would make the 3 month limit for 
eligibility only apply if a person was offered a job training or 
workfare opportunity. With this fix, those who are looking for work 
aren't penalized because their state doesn't have the resources to 
offer a job training or work program.

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