HR 272: Congress; U.S.D.A. modify eligibility requirements for SNAP Program; adopt legislation

House Resolution 272

By: Representatives Glaize of the 67th, Dickey of the 134th, Townsend of the 179th, Paris of the 142nd, Campbell of the 35th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Encouraging the United States Congress to adopt legislation requiring the United States Department of Agriculture to modify eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for students enrolled in institutions of higher education; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, under existing federal regulations, students enrolled in institutions of higher education are ineligible for SNAP benefits unless they qualify for certain exemptions; and

WHEREAS, one such exemption is that a student must be employed for at least 20 hours per week and paid for such employment; and

WHEREAS, many students are often involved in unpaid work and other activities that are similar to employment; and

WHEREAS, students engaged in such unpaid work and other activities are meaningfully contributing to their campus communities and should have the same eligibility for SNAP benefits as students engaged in paid employment.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body encourage the United States Congress to adopt legislation requiring the United States Department of Agriculture to modify SNAP eligibility criteria for students so that the following would count toward the employment exemption, regardless of whether a student was paid:

(1) Work done as part of a research assistantship;

(2) Work done by teaching assistants;

(3) Work with student organizations, including work done by officers of such organizations;

(4) Volunteer and community service hours; and

(5) Work done by student ambassadors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the United States Congress.