General Summary of the Bill

The proposed bill, H.R. 1528, titled the "America Works Act of 2025," aims to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, particularly concerning work requirements for able-bodied adults enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. The bill introduces standardized work requirements, specifying exceptions and allowing state-specific waivers in areas of high unemployment. Specifically, the bill outlines that certain individuals, such as those under 18, over 65, pregnant, medically unfit for employment, or responsible for a young child, are exempt from these work requirements. Moreover, the bill enables states to apply for waivers to exempt groups from these requirements if the unemployment rate in a given region exceeds 10 percent.

Significant Issues

Several issues arise from the bill’s language and provisions:

1. Medical Certification Ambiguity: The bill does not specify how individuals should be "medically certified" as unfit for employment. This lack of clarity may result in varying interpretations and applications across different states, possibly leading to inconsistencies and inequities.

2. Definition of 'County-Equivalent': The term "county-equivalent" is not clearly defined, which could cause confusion in identifying eligible regions for unemployment-based waivers.

3. Waiver Request Process: There is no clearly outlined process for how a state agency should apply for a waiver. This omission might lead to inconsistent application processes across states.

4. Unspecified Unemployment Criteria: The criteria to determine if an area's unemployment rate exceeds 10 percent are not specified. This gap could lead to discrepancies between local and federal data, affecting the fairness of the unemployment exemption.

5. Reference to Subsection (d)(2): The bill's use of "otherwise exempt under subsection (d)(2)" assumes that this subsection is easily accessible, which might not be the case, leading to potential confusion or errors in applying the exemption criteria.

Impact on the General Public

The bill could broadly impact individuals participating in SNAP as it seeks to standardize work requirements while providing specific exemptions. For the general public, especially those relying on SNAP, these amendments could affect their eligibility and access to vital nutrition assistance depending on their circumstances and state of residence.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

• SNAP Recipients: Able-bodied adults without dependents who may not fall under the outlined exemptions will encounter stricter work requirements, possibly affecting their continued access to SNAP benefits.

• State Governments: States will need to navigate the process of applying for waivers in regions with high unemployment. The lack of a defined process can be challenging, potentially burdening state resources to meet the new administrative requirements effectively.

• Healthcare Providers: Those tasked with providing medical certifications could face increased demand as individuals seek to qualify for exemptions based on being unfit for employment.

In summary, while the bill is aimed at creating more uniform work requirements for SNAP participants, its vague language on several key aspects might lead to implementation challenges and disparities in how different states and regions apply these rules.