Let’s Get to Work Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1198
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-14: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Let's Get to Work Act of 2025" (H.R. 1198) aims to strengthen work requirements for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) and extend similar requirements to residents of public housing and those receiving tenant-based rental assistance. The goal is to encourage employment among able-bodied adults while providing limited exemptions for certain vulnerable groups.
Key Provisions
- SNAP Work Requirements (Section 2):
- Able-bodied adults without dependents must work, train for work, or participate in work programs for at least 20 hours per week, or they lose benefits after a 3-month period (or 6 months for parents or caregivers of dependent children).
- Exemptions apply to individuals who are:
- Medically unfit for employment.
- Parents or caregivers of children under 6 years old.
- Over 60 years of age.
- Married to and living with a spouse who meets the work requirements, if responsible for a dependent individual (e.g., a child or elderly relative).
- States can offer limited waivers for areas with high unemployment (over 10%) or insufficient job opportunities, but these are capped and require justification.
- Conforming changes update references to time periods and exemptions throughout the law.
- Extension to Housing Programs (Section 3):
- Applies the same SNAP work requirements to individuals in public housing (government-owned low-income housing) and those receiving tenant-based rental assistance (vouchers to help pay private rent).
- Exemptions mirror those in SNAP, so non-exempt adults must comply or risk losing housing benefits.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- SNAP Modifications:
- Reduces the exemption for parents from children under 18 to under 6 years old, narrowing eligibility for non-working caregivers.
- Adds a new exemption for married individuals caring for dependents if their spouse complies with work rules, but removes or tightens other prior exemptions (e.g., for certain pregnant women or short-term hardships).
- Shortens some compliance grace periods from 3 months to align with the new 6-month option for parents, and updates administrative references to reflect these changes.
- New Application to Housing:
- This is a major expansion; previously, public housing and rental vouchers under the United States Housing Act of 1937 did not have mandatory work requirements tied to SNAP standards. Now, non-compliant individuals in these programs must meet the same work thresholds.
These amendments build on the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and the United States Housing Act of 1937 by making work participation stricter and more uniform across federal assistance programs.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Low-income adults without exemptions may face reduced access to food and housing aid if they cannot meet work requirements, potentially increasing food insecurity or homelessness for some families. It could incentivize employment for others, but might disproportionately affect those in rural or high-unemployment areas with limited job options.
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers SNAP, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which oversees housing programs, will need to update eligibility checks, enforcement, and reporting systems. States may incur higher administrative costs for verifying compliance and handling appeals.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic welfare policy focused on U.S. residents.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- SNAP and Housing Recipients: Primarily low-income individuals and families, including able-bodied adults, parents of young children, and caregivers, who may gain or lose benefits based on work status.
- State and Local Agencies: Responsible for implementing and enforcing the rules, including job training referrals and exemption verifications.
- Employers and Workforce Programs: Could see increased participation in training or job placement services funded by federal programs.
- Advocacy Groups: Organizations supporting food security, housing rights, or welfare reform, who may influence implementation or challenge aspects in court.
- Federal Departments: USDA and HUD, tasked with oversight and potential rulemaking.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill aligns work requirements with existing federal welfare laws but could lead to increased litigation over exemption interpretations (e.g., what qualifies as "medically unfit" or "dependent individual"). Courts may review if the changes violate administrative procedures or equal protection principles under the U.S. Constitution.
- Constitutional: Conditions on federal benefits like these are generally upheld as long as they do not infringe on fundamental rights; however, stricter rules might raise due process concerns for benefit terminations without adequate notice or appeals.
- Political: This legislation reflects ongoing debates on welfare reform, emphasizing personal responsibility and reducing dependency on government aid. It could polarize views between supporters of work incentives and critics concerned about barriers for vulnerable populations, potentially affecting future budget and entitlement discussions in Congress.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2], Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-14: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- 2025-02-11: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-11: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-11: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Let’s Get to Work Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-11 — PDF (4 pages)