Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 1156
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-16T11:03:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025" aims to protect workers who are on strike and their households from losing eligibility for benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps). SNAP provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families. The bill ensures that participating in a strike does not automatically disqualify someone from this program.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Eligibility Rules: The bill modifies Section 6(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
- It removes a specific clause (clause (iv)) that previously addressed striker disqualifications and renumbers the remaining clauses.
- It revises the language in paragraph (3) to state that no household member will become ineligible for SNAP solely because of being on strike. This replaces older wording that tied ineligibility directly to strike participation, including exceptions for strikes related to health or safety issues.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law, workers on strike are generally ineligible for SNAP benefits during the strike, except in limited cases (e.g., if the strike is over serious health or safety concerns raised by a government authority).
- This bill eliminates the automatic disqualification for strikers, allowing them and their households to continue receiving SNAP benefits without interruption, regardless of the reason for the strike. It simplifies the rules by removing exceptions and directly prohibiting ineligibility based on strike status.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Striking workers and their families, especially those in low-income households, will have continued access to food assistance during labor disputes, potentially reducing financial hardship and food insecurity during strikes.
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers SNAP, may see a slight increase in program participation and costs during strike periods, but this could be offset by supporting workforce stability.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic food assistance and labor policies.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Striking Workers and Households: Primary beneficiaries, gaining uninterrupted SNAP access to maintain basic needs during strikes.
- Labor Unions and Workers' Rights Groups: Likely supporters, as the bill strengthens protections for organized labor actions.
- SNAP Administrators and State Agencies: Responsible for implementing changes, potentially needing updates to eligibility verification processes.
- Employers and Businesses: Indirectly affected, as sustained SNAP benefits might empower workers in negotiations without the pressure of food insecurity.
- Taxpayers: Could face minor increases in federal SNAP spending during widespread strikes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The changes align SNAP eligibility more closely with broader anti-poverty goals, potentially reducing administrative burdens by simplifying strike-related rules. No challenges to existing statutes are introduced.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; the bill operates within Congress's authority to regulate federal assistance programs under the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
- Political: The legislation supports pro-labor policies by decoupling food aid from employment status during disputes, which could influence debates on workers' rights versus program costs. Introduced by a bipartisan group of senators, it reflects priorities in agriculture, nutrition, and labor committees.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (15)
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ], Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2025-03-26: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-26 — PDF (2 pages)