On this episode of the AEI Events Podcast, AEI hosts House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) to discuss the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the 2018 Farm Bill.

Chairman Conaway highlighted work as a vital antipoverty measure. He discussed proposed reforms to SNAP that seek to encourage and reward employment through measures such as work requirements for working-age, able-bodied adult recipients. Following the chairman’s remarks, an expert panel offered their analysis of the bill.

Jason Turner of the Secretaries’ Innovation Group agreed that the bill improves SNAP but contended that it provides too many exemptions from the work requirement and connects too few SNAP recipients to employment opportunities. AEI’s Angela Rachidi agreed that the bill is a step forward but noted that it is too restrictive on states. She urged federal lawmakers to prioritize states’ concerns and insights. Highlighting the mission of SNAP to improve nutrition for low-income families, Dr. Rachidi also advocated for greater restriction of sugar-sweetened beverage purchases with SNAP benefits. Finally, Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation echoed Mr. Turner’s concern that the work requirements touch too few recipients. Since marriage helps protect families from poverty, he critiqued the potential marriage penalty in the bill’s requirement for both parents to engage in work activities.

This event took place on May 8, 2018.

Watch the full event here.

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Published in: Economics