Congress should have the first, and last, word on stricter work requirements for able-bodied SNAP recipients, said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Thursday. The USDA is working on the issue as a regulatory matter, but Perdue, who has spoken out against food stamps as “a permanent lifestyle,” told reporters that he would not intrude on legislative prerogatives.
“I would much rather have that statutorily determined. I don’t want to preempt Congress,” said Perdue. Farm bill negotiators are at a stalemate over work requirements, and there has been speculation that the USDA could defuse the dispute with tougher enforcement of a 90-day limit on food stamp benefits for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs).
Lawmakers say the Senate will not accept the work requirements proposed by the GOP-controlled House, and that the conservatives who run the House would defeat the bipartisan Senate farm bill, which does not change food stamp rules. House Republicans would require an estimated 7 million “work-capable” adults ages 18 to 59 to work at least 20 hours a week or spend equivalent time in job training or workfare to qualify for food stamps. Senators voted 2-to-1 against the approach, and House Democrats voted solidly against it when the chamber passed its farm bill.
“We could get [the farm bill] very fast without the work rules, but we want the work rules in, and the Democrats just don’t want to vote for that,” said President Trump on Wednesday. “So at some point, they’ll have to pay, maybe, a price.”
It was the second time in 10 days that Trump acknowledged there is insufficient support in Congress for tougher work requirements. The first time, in Indianapolis, he said Senate Democrats were the obstacle and suggested that if Republicans gained enough seats in the midterm elections, the farm bill could wait until 2019 for passage with a stronger GOP imprint.
Instead, Republicans will have less leverage because Democrats will control the House. Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, who is in line to become House Agriculture chairman, says the big issue in SNAP is the overuse by states of waivers of the 90-day benefits limit for ABAWDs, not work requirements for a larger group of food stamp recipients.
Texas Rep. Michael Conaway, currently the Agriculture chairman and author of the House farm bill, has been a dogged advocate of stricter work requirements and tighter eligibility rules.
Farm bill negotiators want to enact the farm bill this year but have not resolved the SNAP dispute. Perdue said he was hopeful of passage this year. “This should be something that Congress wants to finish up.”