United States 115th Congress Status: In Committee 102 R cosponsors

HR 2996 — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Reform Act of 2017

Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

In plain language

This bill modifies work requirements for certain adults receiving nutrition assistance.

The bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act to change work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, mandating supervised job search participation. It also imposes penalties on states that do not comply with these requirements.

Summary

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: terminate the authority of the Department of Agriculture to waive the requirements, upon the request of a state agency, for individuals residing in an area that has an unemployment rate of over 10% or does not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for the individuals; shorten from three months to one month the time limit for receiving benefits in a three-year period without meeting the requirements; decrease from 15% to 5% the portion of ABAWDs that a state may exempt from the requirements; allow participation in a supervised job search to satisfy the requirements; require states receiving SNAP funds to provide ABAWDs with opportunities to participate in a work program, a workfare program, or a supervised job search; and reduce SNAP allotments for states that fail to comply with requirements regarding eligibility disqualifications. 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).

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

11 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill modifies work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

  • 7 U.S.C. 2011

    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.

    Adds findings that emphasize promoting employment, healthy marriage, and self-sufficiency in SNAP policy.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2012(k)

    food, food product, meal, or other item described in this subsection → 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)

    Clarifies that only essential food items, as determined by the Secretary, are considered food under SNAP.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2012

    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.

    Defines 'supervised job search' and outlines the requirements and monitoring for recipients participating in this program.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)

    not less than 3 months (consecutive or otherwise) → more than 1 month

    Reduces the duration requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents to meet work requirements from at least 3 months to more than 1 month.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)

    participate in supervised job search for at least 8 hours per week.

    Imposes a new requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents to participate in supervised job search for at least 8 hours per week.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)

    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.

    Specifies that the prior work requirement shall not apply to fiscal years following the enactment of this bill.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)

    15-PERCENT → 5-PERCENT

    Reduces the penalty percentage related to noncompliance with work requirements from 15% to 5%.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)

    3 months → 1 month

    Reduces the time frame for a condition related to work requirements from 3 months to 1 month.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)

    15 percent → 5 percent

    Lowers the penalty for state noncompliance with work requirements from 15% to 5%.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)

    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).

    Mandates that states provide work requirement participants with opportunities to engage in specific activities selected by the state.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)

    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.

    Imposes a financial penalty on states for failing to comply with work requirement enforcement.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

  4. Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 101 co-sponsors · 445 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (101)

Not signed on (445)

445 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 445 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

agriculture
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 2996 do?
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: terminate the authority of the Department of Agriculture to waive the requirements, upon the request of a state agency, for individuals residing in an area that has an unemployment rate of over 10% or does not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for the individuals; shorten from three months to one month the time limit for receiving benefits in a three-year period without meeting the requirements; decrease from 15% to 5% the portion of ABAWDs that a state may exempt from the requirements; allow participation in a supervised job search to satisfy the requirements; require states receiving SNAP funds to provide ABAWDs with opportunities to participate in a work program, a workfare program, or a supervised job search; and reduce SNAP allotments for states that fail to comply with requirements regarding eligibility disqualifications. 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).
Who sponsors HR 2996?
HR 2996 is sponsored by Graves, Garret (Republican), Babin, Brian (Republican), Banks, Jim (Republican), Smith, Jason (Republican), Brat, Dave (Republican), Johnson, Mike (Republican), Ratcliffe, John (Republican), Gosar, Paul A. (Republican), DesJarlais, Scott (Republican), Walker, Mark (Republican), Barr, Andy (Republican), Flores, Bill (Republican), Smith, Lamar (Republican), Farenthold, Blake (Republican), Luetkemeyer, Blaine (Republican), Pittenger, Robert (Republican), Graves, Sam (Republican), Lamborn, Doug (Republican), Bishop, Mike (Republican), Wagner, Ann (Republican), Rice, Tom (Republican), Allen, Rick W. (Republican), Meadows, Mark (Republican), Budd, Ted (Republican), Biggs, Andy (Republican), Loudermilk, Barry (Republican), Culberson, John Abney (Republican), Hensarling, Jeb (Republican), Graves, Tom (Republican), Rouzer, David (Republican), Harris, Andy (Republican), Coffman, Mike (Republican), Long, Billy (Republican), Newhouse, Dan (Republican), Burgess, Michael C. (Republican), Rokita, Todd (Republican), DeSantis, Ron (Republican), Rooney, Francis (Republican), Duncan, Jeff (Republican), Estes, Ron (Republican), Perry, Scott (Republican), Higgins, Clay (Republican), Gaetz, Matt (Republican), Womack, Steve (Republican), Franks, Trent (Republican), Wittman, Robert J. (Republican), Webster, Daniel (Republican), Labrador, Raul R. (Republican), Chabot, Steve (Republican), Palmer, Gary J. (Republican), Marchant, Kenny (Republican), Norman, Ralph (Republican), Weber, Randy K. Sr. (Republican), McClintock, Tom (Republican), Gibbs, Bob (Republican), Davidson, Warren (Republican), Ferguson, A. Drew (Republican), Palazzo, Steven M. (Republican), Hice, Jody B. (Republican), Williams, Roger (Republican), Rothfus, Keith J. (Republican), Poe, Ted (Republican), Comer, James (Republican), Kelly, Trent (Republican), Arrington, Jodey C. (Republican), Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" (Republican), Buck, Ken (Republican), Brooks, Mo (Republican), Grothman, Glenn (Republican), Schweikert, David (Republican), Gohmert, Louie (Republican), Jordan, Jim (Republican), Messer, Luke (Republican), King, Steve (Republican), Lewis, Jason (Republican), LaHood, Darin (Republican), Holding, George (Republican), Collins, Doug (Republican), Westerman, Bruce (Republican), Kelly, Mike (Republican), Wilson, Joe (Republican), Posey, Bill (Republican), Handel, Karen C. (Republican), Gowdy, Trey (Republican), Mooney, Alexander X. (Republican), Sessions, Pete (Republican), Goodlatte, Bob (Republican), Moolenaar, John R. (Republican), Johnson, Sam (Republican), Hunter, Duncan D. (Republican), Gallagher, Mike (Republican), Duncan, John J., Jr. (Republican), Love, Mia B. (Republican), Hudson, Richard (Republican), Sanford, Mark (Republican), Bishop, Rob (Republican), Garrett, Thomas A., Jr. (Republican), Black, Diane (Republican), Bucshon, Larry (Republican), Curtis, John R. (Republican), Smucker, Lloyd (Republican), and Lesko, Debbie (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 2996?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 2996?
Track HR 2996 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HR 2996

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HR 2996

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →