FEED Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2707
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-04: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2025-10-23T11:18:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Food Eligibility for Education and Development Act of 2025 (FEED Act of 2025) aims to support students participating in career and technical education (CTE) programs—such as vocational training in skills like welding or healthcare—by ensuring their earnings from related work experiences do not reduce their families' eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly known as food stamps). This encourages youth involvement in apprenticeships, internships, or work-based learning without financial penalties to household food assistance.
Key Provisions
- Income Exclusion for Students: Adds a new rule to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 excluding certain income from SNAP eligibility calculations.
- Applies to household members under age 21 who are enrolled in CTE programs (as defined under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, which funds vocational education).
- The student must live with a natural, adoptive, or stepparent, or be under the parental control of another household member.
- Excluded income must come from an apprenticeship, internship, or work-based learning program tied to the student's CTE enrollment.
- Verification Process: The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (who oversees SNAP) must establish procedures to confirm eligibility, including proof of CTE enrollment, the student's age, and household relationships.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 5(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(d)), which lists exclusions from countable income for SNAP.
- Makes minor grammatical updates to existing paragraphs (18) and (19) for proper punctuation.
- Introduces a new paragraph (20) specifically targeting CTE-related student earnings, which were previously counted as household income and could disqualify or reduce benefits for low-income families.
- This is a targeted addition rather than a broad overhaul, focusing only on youth under 21 in structured educational work programs.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Could increase SNAP benefits or eligibility for families with CTE students, helping low-income households afford food while supporting youth skill-building and entry into the workforce. May reduce financial barriers to vocational education, potentially lowering dropout rates and improving long-term employment prospects.
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will need to develop and implement verification procedures, possibly increasing administrative workload and costs initially, but streamlining eligibility for affected households over time.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic food assistance and education policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Students and Families: Primarily benefits low-income youth under 21 in CTE programs and their households, allowing them to retain SNAP aid despite earned income from training.
- Educational Institutions: CTE providers (e.g., high schools, community colleges) may see higher participation as the policy removes a disincentive.
- Government Entities: USDA and state SNAP agencies, responsible for verification and program administration.
- Employers and Programs: Apprenticeship and internship sponsors in CTE fields, indirectly supported by easier access to student workers without benefit loss.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens SNAP's role in promoting education and workforce development by aligning food assistance with federal education laws like the Perkins Act. Requires USDA rulemaking for verification, which could face challenges if procedures are seen as overly burdensome, but includes no controversial mandates.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; the bill operates within Congress's spending power under the Constitution to regulate welfare programs and support education.
- Political: Represents a bipartisan-friendly approach to youth opportunity, potentially appealing to supporters of vocational training and anti-poverty efforts. Could spark debate on balancing work incentives with welfare exclusions, but focuses narrowly on education-linked income to avoid broader entitlement expansions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-04: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2025-09-04: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Food Eligibility for Education and Development Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-04 — PDF (3 pages)