SNAP E&T Data And Technical Assistance (DATA) Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4347
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-10: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-29T20:55:12Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The SNAP E&T Data And Technical Assistance (DATA) Act of 2025 aims to improve the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) employment and training (E&T) programs by providing federal grants to states. These grants focus on building better data systems to enhance program effectiveness, reduce administrative burdens, promote fairness, safeguard privacy, and increase transparency.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary is authorized to award competitive grants to state agencies for developing or improving long-term (longitudinal) administrative databases and related tools specifically for SNAP E&T programs.
- Award Priorities: Grants prioritize states without prior funding or those needing stronger data infrastructure; improving program goals like helping participants gain skills for self-sufficiency; enabling coordination with other federal workforce programs (e.g., Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for job training and Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act for vocational education); contributing to state-wide data systems that link education and workforce data; leveraging non-federal funding; supporting research and improvements; and other USDA-determined needs.
- Privacy and Security: Grant-funded data must be used only for these purposes, is exempt from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) disclosure requirements (meaning it's protected from public release), safeguards participants' personal identities and locations, and complies with USDA security standards.
- Funding and Administration:
- Allocates $15 million annually from existing SNAP funds (under section 18 of the Food and Nutrition Act) for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
- Up to 20% of funds can be reserved for USDA-provided technical assistance (expert guidance) to help states implement the grants.
- Funds must supplement (add to) existing state or local budgets, not replace them.
- Reporting Requirements: Starting three years after enactment and annually thereafter, USDA must report to congressional agriculture committees on grant awards, recipient uses of funds, and impacts on program effectiveness.
- Government Accountability Office (GAO) Review: Within one year of funding availability, the GAO (an independent congressional watchdog) must examine grant implementation, including best practices for participant enrollment across programs, fund coordination strategies, and data-sharing impacts on outcomes. The GAO will recommend improvements to USDA and report findings to congressional agriculture committees.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (which governs SNAP) by adding a new subsection (o) to section 5. This introduces a dedicated grant program for data infrastructure in SNAP E&T, which did not previously exist. It builds on existing SNAP E&T provisions (under section 6(d)) by emphasizing data-driven enhancements but does not alter core eligibility or benefit rules.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: USDA gains new responsibilities for grant administration and technical assistance, potentially streamlining oversight of SNAP E&T through better data. State agencies may see reduced administrative burdens and improved program coordination, but must compete for limited funds.
- Citizens: SNAP participants, particularly those in E&T programs (often low-income individuals seeking job skills), could benefit from more effective training, easier access to coordinated services across programs, and equitable opportunities. Enhanced data tools may lead to better long-term outcomes like employment stability, without directly affecting benefit amounts.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic food assistance and workforce programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State SNAP Agencies: Primary recipients of grants; they handle implementation and data system improvements.
- SNAP E&T Participants: Low-income individuals in training programs who may gain from enhanced services and outcomes.
- USDA: Oversees grants, provides technical assistance, and reports to Congress.
- Other Workforce Programs: Entities under laws like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or career-technical education acts, which could see improved coordination and data sharing with SNAP.
- Congressional Committees: Agriculture committees in the House and Senate receive reports and GAO findings, influencing future oversight.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens data privacy by exempting grant-related information from FOIA (under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(3), a standard exemption for protected government functions) and mandating identity protections, aligning with broader federal privacy laws like those in health and education data. The "supplement not supplant" rule ensures compliance with federal funding guidelines to avoid displacing state resources.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; the bill supports Congress's spending power under Article I by allocating funds for public welfare programs, without infringing on states' rights (grants are voluntary and competitive).
- Political: Promotes bipartisan goals of program efficiency and equity in anti-poverty efforts, with dedicated funding signaling commitment to workforce development. The GAO review adds accountability, potentially informing future appropriations debates, but the $15 million annual cap limits fiscal scope amid broader SNAP budget discussions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-10: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-07-10: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- SNAP E&T Data And Technical Assistance (DATA) Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-10 — PDF (6 pages)