Press Releases

Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement after the Biden Administration withdrew a Trump Administration proposed U.S. Department of Agriculture rule that would have eliminated broad-based categorical eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and potentially kept millions of Americans from the temporary food assistance they need:

“Today’s withdrawal of this harmful proposal is yet another example of President Biden prioritizing the wellbeing of American families. Food insecurity is a real problem across the United States, particularly as the nation continues to climb out of the COVID recession. The federal government should not make it harder for people to put food on the table and feed their kids, but that’s exactly what the Trump Administration’s proposal would have done. It’s a tremendous relief that millions of Americans—including the one in nine Massachusetts residents who rely on SNAP—no longer need to fear the loss of this critical nutrition assistance.”

Specifically, this rule would have refined how receipt of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits may confer categorical eligibility for SNAP. The rule would have also required state agencies to include in their SNAP state plan of operations all non-cash TANF benefits and certain cash TANF benefits that confer categorical eligibility. More information on the proposed rule and its withdrawal can be found HERE.

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