America Works Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1528
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-06T19:15:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The America Works Act of 2025 aims to standardize and strengthen work requirements for able-bodied adults participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federal program that provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families. By amending the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, the bill seeks to promote employment among eligible recipients while maintaining certain exemptions.
Key Provisions
- Work Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults: Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) must meet work requirements to remain eligible for SNAP benefits, with limited exceptions.
- Exceptions to Work Requirements (amending Section 6(o)(3)):
- Individuals under 18 or over 65 years old.
- Those medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment.
- Parents or household members responsible for a dependent child under 7 years of age.
- Individuals exempt under other SNAP provisions (subsection (d)(2), which includes categories like students or those in certain drug treatment programs).
- Pregnant women.
- Waiver Process (amending Section 6(o)(4)(A)):
- State agencies can request waivers for groups of individuals, supported by the state's chief executive officer (e.g., governor).
- The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture may grant waivers only if the unemployment rate in the relevant county (or county-equivalent area) exceeds 10%.
- Repeal of Prior Provision: Strikes subsection (b) of Section 311 from the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which had previously modified SNAP work requirements (effectively reverting or standardizing certain aspects of those changes).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Narrower Exceptions: Compared to prior law, the bill limits exemptions by raising the child age threshold for parental responsibilities from under 6 to under 7 years, while adding pregnancy as an explicit exemption. It also ties other exemptions directly to existing SNAP categories.
- Stricter Waiver Criteria: Waivers are now conditional on county-level unemployment exceeding 10%, a higher threshold than some previous state-wide or lower-rate allowances. This replaces broader waiver flexibility introduced in the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act.
- Overall Standardization: By repealing the 2023 Act's subsection (b), the bill aims to create uniform national rules, reducing variations in how states implement work requirements for SNAP.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: State SNAP agencies may face increased administrative burdens to verify exemptions and unemployment data for waivers, potentially requiring more resources for compliance monitoring. The U.S. Department of Agriculture would handle waiver approvals, which could lead to fewer statewide waivers and more localized decisions.
- On Citizens: Able-bodied SNAP recipients could lose benefits if they fail to meet work requirements, affecting an estimated millions of low-income adults (particularly those aged 18-65 without young children). This might encourage employment but could increase food insecurity for those unable to comply due to barriers like job scarcity or health issues.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic welfare policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- SNAP Recipients: Primarily able-bodied adults without dependents, who may face stricter eligibility rules; exemptions protect vulnerable groups like the elderly, disabled, parents of young children, and pregnant individuals.
- State Governments: Agencies administering SNAP will need to adapt to new waiver processes and reporting, with governors playing a key role in requests.
- Federal Government: The U.S. Department of Agriculture gains authority over targeted waivers, while Congress shapes welfare policy.
- Employers and Workforce Programs: Indirectly affected, as stronger work requirements could increase labor market participation among low-income adults.
- Advocacy Groups: Food assistance nonprofits (e.g., those supporting anti-hunger efforts) and employment advocates may engage in implementation or legal challenges.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill reinforces SNAP's existing framework under the Food and Nutrition Act, but the waiver changes could lead to litigation if states argue the 10% unemployment threshold is overly restrictive or if recipients challenge exemption denials. It maintains compliance with federal welfare statutes without altering funding levels.
- Constitutional Implications: No direct challenges to core rights (e.g., due process in benefit administration is preserved), but it could raise equal protection concerns if implementation disproportionately affects certain demographics, such as rural or minority communities with high unemployment.
- Political Implications: As a bipartisan-introduced bill (though from Republican sponsors), it reflects ongoing debates over welfare reform, emphasizing work incentives amid fiscal conservatism. Passage could influence broader discussions on poverty reduction and program efficiency, potentially setting precedents for similar requirements in other aid programs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]
Cosponsors (10)
Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- 2025-02-24: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-02-24: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- America Works Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-24 — PDF (3 pages)