Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2357
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T08:06:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025 aims to protect the eligibility of striking workers and their households for benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, a federal program providing food assistance to low-income individuals and families). It prevents strikes from causing automatic loss of these benefits, supporting workers during labor disputes.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Eligibility Rules: The bill modifies Section 6(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)), which governs SNAP eligibility based on employment status.
- Removes a specific clause (formerly clause (iv) in paragraph (1)(D)) that previously disqualified individuals involved in strikes.
- Redesignates the remaining clauses (v and vi) as (iv and v) to maintain numbering.
- Revises paragraph (3) to state that no household shall become ineligible for SNAP solely "as a result of being on strike," eliminating prior exceptions or qualifications that tied ineligibility to strike participation.
- Short Title: The legislation is titled the "Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025."
- Scope: Applies to all striking workers, ensuring their households retain SNAP access regardless of income changes due to the strike.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law, households could lose SNAP eligibility if a strike (a work stoppage by employees to protest conditions) directly caused a drop in income that would otherwise qualify them for benefits. This created a barrier for low-wage workers joining strikes.
- The bill eliminates this strike-related disqualification entirely, shifting SNAP rules to treat striking like other forms of unemployment (e.g., layoffs) without penalty. It simplifies eligibility by removing conditional language that made strikers ineligible "at any time" during a strike, replacing it with a clear prohibition on disqualification based on strike status.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Striking workers and their families can continue receiving SNAP benefits (e.g., EBT cards for groceries) during labor actions, reducing food insecurity and financial strain. This may encourage participation in strikes without fear of losing essential aid, potentially benefiting up to millions in industries prone to labor disputes like manufacturing or services.
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers SNAP, may need to update eligibility verification processes to exclude strike status as a factor. This could lead to slightly higher program enrollment and administrative costs, but streamlined rules might reduce appeals or disputes.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic food assistance and labor policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Striking Workers and Households: Primary beneficiaries, gaining uninterrupted access to SNAP during strikes.
- Labor Unions and Workers' Rights Advocates: Supported by groups like those represented by the bill's sponsors (mostly Democratic members of Congress), as it bolsters collective bargaining without government penalties.
- SNAP Administrators and State Agencies: Must implement changes, potentially handling more cases involving labor disputes.
- Employers and Businesses: Indirectly affected, as easier access to benefits might make workers more willing to strike, influencing labor negotiations.
- Low-Income Communities: Broader support for food security, especially in union-heavy sectors.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Strengthens SNAP as a safety net by aligning it more closely with anti-poverty goals, removing a statutory hurdle that could be challenged as discriminatory against labor activity. No new enforcement mechanisms are added, relying on existing SNAP oversight.
- Constitutional Implications: None significant; the change is a statutory adjustment within Congress's authority over federal spending programs (under the Spending Clause of the Constitution). It does not infringe on free speech or assembly rights tied to strikes but supports them indirectly.
- Political Implications: Introduced by a bipartisan group but primarily progressive Democrats, the bill reflects ongoing debates over labor protections versus fiscal concerns for entitlement programs. Referral to the House Agriculture Committee signals potential review in farm and nutrition policy contexts, with possible amendments during debates on work requirements in social programs. If passed, it could influence future labor legislation amid rising union activity.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (83)
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11] and 33 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- 2025-03-26: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-03-26: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-26 — PDF (2 pages)