On Thursday, the Iowa House of Representatives approved a bill to change the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Senate File 494 would add more eligibility requirements and background checks to people who qualify for SNAP. Supporters of the bill say if you qualify for the benefit, you’ll still get it. Republican Joel Fry says the bill allows the program to be sustainable in the long term. If signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, the bill would limit households with more than $15,000 in liquid assets and personal property from accessing SNAP benefits. This does not include the applicant’s home and one car. State agencies will be required to use a variety of federal sources such as IRS and Social Security data to verify applicants’ eligibility. Democrats say the change means Iowa will lose $42 million in federal funding through 2027. House Republican Speaker Pat Grassley said it would not only save the state millions of dollars, but also make the service more efficient. “I don’t think we have a good enough system to really track what we’re even applying and who’s getting it.” I think Representative Fry, who also manages the budget, does a good job with these services and also recognizes that this is a way that will run the department more efficiently not just from the point of view of simply saving money, but also, which is more -importantly, ensuring the services people should receive, they receive them. And also making sure they’re going to be eligible, Grassley said. Their actions and legislation are making it much more difficult for working class Iowans to break out of this cycle of poverty, and the legislation we passed today as a body only gets people working when they’re down,” said Democratic Rep. Sammy Sheetz. Legislative analysis also found that this bill would remove hundreds of other Iowans from the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Family Investment Program if signed by Reynolds.
On Thursday, the Iowa House approved a bill to change the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Senate File 494 would add more eligibility requirements and background checks to people who qualify for SNAP.
Supporters of the bill say if you’re eligible for benefits, you’ll still get them.
Republican Joel Fry says the bill allows the program to be sustainable in the long term.
If signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, the bill would limit households with more than $15,000 in liquid assets and personal property from accessing SNAP benefits.
It does not include the appellant’s home and one car.
State agencies will be required to use a variety of federal sources such as IRS and Social Security data to verify applicants’ eligibility.
Democrats say the change means Iowa will lose $42 million in federal funding through 2027.
House Republican Speaker Pat Grassley said it would not only save the state millions of dollars, but also make the service more efficient.
“I don’t think we have a good enough system to really track what we’re applying and who’s getting it. I think Congressman Frye, who also manages the budget, has a good handle on these services and also recognizes that this is a way that will run the department more efficiently not just from the point of view of simply saving money, but also, more importantly, ensuring that the services that people should receive, they receive. And also making sure it’s going to qualify,” Grassley said.
“Their actions and legislation make it much more difficult for working class Iowans to break out of this cycle of poverty, and the legislation we passed today as a body only kicks working people when they’re down,” Democratic Rep. Sammy Sheetz said.
A legislative analysis also found that this bill would remove hundreds of other Iowans from the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Family Investment Program if signed by Reynolds.