Bill To Reinstate SNAP Benefits Work Requirement Passes House Committee
Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
A bill that would reinstate a work requirement for anyone receiving temporary government assistance passed through the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee on Tuesday.
House Bill 2096, sponsored by Representative William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44), would require that all individuals ages 18-49 who are able-bodied and without children must work at least 20 hours per week, or participate in job training or volunteer work, in order to receive government benefits.
This requirement was previously in effect but had been waived during the COVID-19 pandemic. If passed, the bill would simply reinstate that requirement and limit the exemptions that are allowed.
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According to the bill, the department would be required to obtain approval from the general assembly before they could provide any exemptions to the work requirement put in place for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
An amendment to the bill would add an additional requirement that the Department of Human Services submit an annual report detailing any waivers to the work requirement for the previous fiscal year. The report must also include specific data regarding the number of benefit recipients and the amount of those benefits, the number of recipients who are subject to the work requirement, and the number of recipients participating in the job training program.
Representative Karen Camper (D-Memphis-District 87) asked Lamberth whether any federal funding would be put in jeopardy with the passing of the bill.
According to Lamberth, no federal funding would be endangered as the bill simply “matches the spirit of the federal law.”
The bill was passed with a voice vote. Only Representative Camper requested to be recorded as voting no.
The bill will move on to the House Calendar and Rules Committee.
The companion Senate Bill 2071 was recommended for passage by the Health and Welfare Committee on April 5 and has been placed on the Senate Regular Calendar for Wednesday, April 13.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
