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H.R. 2996: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Reform Act of 2017

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H.R. 2996: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Reform Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-06-22 · Agriculture and Food · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-06-22 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Graves, Garret [R-LA-6] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Reform Act of 2017

Plain summary

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Reform Act of 2017 This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to modify the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) work requirements that apply to able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). The bill modifies the work requirements to: terminate the authority of the Department of Agriculture to waive the requirements, upon the request of a state agency, for individuals residing in an area that has an unemployment rate of over 10% or does not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for the individuals; shorten from three months to one month the time limit for receiving benefits in a three-year period without meeting the requirements; decrease from 15% to 5% the portion of ABAWDs that a state may exempt from the requirements; allow participation in a supervised job search to satisfy the requirements; require states receiving SNAP funds to provide ABAWDs with opportunities to participate in a work program, a workfare program, or a supervised job search; and reduce SNAP allotments for states that fail to comply with requirements regarding eligibility disqualifications. The bill also modifies the congressional declaration of policy to specify that the purpose of SNAP is to increase employment, to encourage healthy marriage, and to promote prosperous self-sufficiency (maintaining an income above the poverty level without services and benefits from the federal government).

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Reform Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Graves, Garret [R-LA-6] · 101 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Brian Babin (R-TX), Jim Banks (R-IN), Jason Smith (R-MO), Mike Johnson (R-LA), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Andy Barr (R-KY), Sam Graves (R-MO), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Rick W. Allen (R-GA), Ted Budd (R-NC), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), David Rouzer (R-NC), Andy Harris (R-MD), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Ron Estes (R-KS), Scott Perry (R-PA), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Steve Womack (R-AR), Robert J. Wittman (R-VA), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Gary J. Palmer (R-AL), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Roger Williams (R-TX) and 41 more.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Exemption
A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr2996 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115