A U.S. Representative from South Dakota would like to see more widespread work requirements included in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for the next farm bill.
Dusty Johnson tells Brownfield there are loopholes in the current program allowing states to ignore a 20-hour a week work requirement for able-bodied people without dependents.
“My bill would close that loophole,” he says. “There are lots of other flexibilities in the existing law for other states to use, but we need to stop the abuse some states have been engaging in.”
Johnson says it’s not a new idea, but there’s an opportunity in a farm bill year to have a broader discussion about safety net programs helping families get out of poverty.
