State Legislature

Hearing examines work opportunities for SNAP recipients

The House Agriculture Committee held a hearing Wednesday to review implementation of state pilot projects under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  One of the reforms in the 2014 Farm Bill included new employment and training pilot projects.  To open the hearing, Committee Chairman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma said that although the unemployment rate has come down, recovery from the recession has been slow.

“We’ve only seen a small decrease in the number of SNAP participants,” said Congressman Lucas in his opening statement.  “We know that many families on SNAP are working, but there are others who have not been able to find employment or earn enough to no longer require federal food assistance.”

Tom Vilsack, US Secretary of Agriculture, told committee members that there are five million able-bodied SNAP recipients without dependents.  He said the program’s goal is to find opportunities for them.

“We’re going to look at demand driven job opportunities, we’re going to look at pre-apprenticeships, career pathways, we’re going to look at the barriers that may exist from job search skills to basic skills,” said Secretary Vilsack, as part of his testimony to the committee.  “The goal is to find jobs for those who want jobs and need jobs and are without jobs and to find better jobs for those who are currently working.”

The pilot program provides $200 million to be used by up to ten states to help adults secure employment and job training and reduce their dependency on SNAP.