President Trump urged Congress on Thursday to keep work requirements for food stamp recipients included in a Republican farm bill passed in the House last month.
“When the House and Senate meet on the very important Farm Bill – we love our farmers – hopefully they will be able to leave the WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD STAMPS PROVISION that the House approved. Senate should go to 51 votes!” Trump tweeted Thursday.
When the House and Senate meet on the very important Farm Bill – we love our farmers – hopefully they will be able to leave the WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD STAMPS PROVISION that the House approved. Senate should go to 51 votes!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2018
The House passed legislation that would enforce stricter work requirements for many able-bodied people who receive food stamps though the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The legislation requires anyone under 60 without young children and who doesn’t have a disability to either work at least 20 hours each week or attend a program to prepare that person to work. The House bill also makes it harder for states to waive the work requirements.
The Senate bill does not include the work requirement changes, despite threats from Trump that he may not sign the farm bill unless it includes such requirements.
The Senate requires 60 votes to pass legislation, but Republicans control only 50 seats.
A conference committee must now reconcile the differences between the House’s version of the bill with the Senate version. The current farm bill expires Sept. 30.
