Stabenow, Wyden, Brown, Tester, Call on President Biden to Swiftly Implement SNAP Exemptions for Vulnerable Populations
WASHINGTON (MONDAY, June 5, 2023) – Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.); Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.); Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio); and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) today called on President Biden to swiftly and equitably implement exemptions for vulnerable populations to access food assistance included in the bipartisan agreement to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a catastrophic default.
While the agreement raised the age limit on certain work requirements for “able-bodied” adults in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from 49 to 54, potentially putting hundreds of thousands of Americans at risk of losing access to food, it included vital new exemptions from work requirement time limits for vulnerable populations which has never before been included in SNAP. These vulnerable populations include homeless individuals, veterans, and youth aging out of foster care who often face significant barriers to employment that make it challenging to meet existing work requirements.
Stabenow, Wyden, Brown, and Tester wrote: “Guidance issued to states from your agencies should ensure related policies are implemented consistently across all states to equitably reach the highest number of eligible participants, reduce administrative and paperwork burdens on both state agencies and SNAP participants, and to ensure participants are adequately screened for exemptions prior to losing access to benefits. This is particularly timely as states work to reinstate the “able-bodied” time limits following the end of the Public Health Emergency.”
The Senators’ full letter is available HERE.
CONTACTS:
Jay Tilton w/Stabenow
Nicole L’Esperance w/Wyden
Alysa James w/Brown
Sarah Feldman w/Tester
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