This proposed rule would amend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program regulations to incorporate three provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

FNS is extending the public comment period on the proposed rule titled, “Employment and Training Opportunities in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program”, which was published in the Federal Register on March 17, 2020. This action extends the deadline for receipt of public comments to give the public additional time to review the proposed rule.

The proposed rule would implement the changes made by section 4005 of The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the Act) to SNAP pertaining to the Employment and Training program and aspects of the work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). In general, these changes are related to strengthening the SNAP E&T program, adding workforce partnerships as a way for SNAP participants to meet their work requirements, and modifying the work requirement for ABAWDs.

This proposed rule would implement Section 4018 of the Agricultural Act of 2014.  Section 4018 created new limitations on the use of federal funds authorized in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program promotion and outreach activities.  

This proposed rule would implement provisions of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 affecting the eligibility, benefits, certification, and employment and training requirements for applicant or participant households in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

This proposed rule would revise regulations governing the WIC food packages to align the WIC food packages with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and current infant feeding practice guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, better promote and support the establishment of successful long-term breastfeeding, provide WIC participants with a wider variety of food, provide WIC state agencies with greater flexibility in prescribing food packages to accommodate participants with cultural food preferences, and serve participants with certain qualifying conditions under one food package to facilitate efficient management of medically fragile participants.

The Department proposes to establish a reasonable formula to allocate 100 percent federal funds authorized under the Farm Bill to carry out the E&T program each fiscal year.

The Food and Nutrition Service proposes to amend its regulations to implement several work-related provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. This proposed rule makes significant changes to current work rules, including requirements for the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program and the optional workfare program.

This rule proposes to freeze the performance-based grants at the level the state agencies received in fiscal year 1993, for two years from promulgation of this rule in final form.