I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1753 
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to repeal the particular 
work requirement that disqualifies able-bodied adults for eligibility to 
participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 10, 2021 
Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Mr. KILMER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. KHANNA, 
Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. WELCH, Ms. PRESSLEY, Mr. 
GALLEGO, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Ms. STRICK-
LAND, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. OMAR, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, 
Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. CA´RDENAS, Mr. RUSH, Mr. MCGOVERN, and Ms. 
MENG) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to repeal 
the particular work requirement that disqualifies able- 
bodied adults for eligibility to participate in the supple-
mental nutrition assistance program. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving Access to 
Nutrition Act of 2021’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) 35 million people, including over 10 million 
children, suffered from hunger even before the 
COVID-19 pandemic. 
(2) Analyses show that 50 million people, in-
cluding 17 million children, could go hungry due to 
the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
(3) As of December 2020, food insecurity 
among White households with children was 24.2 per-
cent, while 38.6 percent of Latinx and 40.6 percent 
of African-American households with children suf-
fered from food insecurity. 
(4) Black and Hispanic children were twice as 
likely to live in households without enough to eat as 
White children, entering this crisis at dispropor-
tionate risk of going hungry. 
(5) Adults who identify as American Indian, 
Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or 
as multiracial, were twice as likely as White adults 
to report that their household did not get enough to 
eat. While official national data for Native American 
households is lacking, previous research in Wash-
ington State showed food insecurity among Native 
households was 2.5 times higher than in White 
households. 
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(6) The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened 
longstanding racial disparities and food insecurity. 
(7) SNAP is the Nation’s first line of defense 
against hunger and is especially vital for vulnerable 
populations. More than 85 percent of all SNAP ben-
efits go to households with children, seniors, and 
persons with disabilities. 
(8) SNAP helps restore access to healthy food, 
improves overall health, and reduces poverty. SNAP 
participation is also associated with educational ad-
vancement of children in poverty and improvements 
in math and reading scores. 
(9) SNAP has a proven record of effectiveness 
in promoting food security and health as well as in 
providing economic stimulus. Each $1 in SNAP ben-
efits during a downturn generates between $1.50 
and $1.80 in economic activity. 
(10) Studies have also demonstrated that work 
requirements do not reduce poverty. 
(11) About 6.1 million individuals are subject to 
SNAP work requirements and are at risk of losing 
critical food assistance if they cannot comply. 
(12) Some live in households with school-aged 
children where benefit reductions or terminations 
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could jeopardize children’s health, development, and 
future success. 
(13) Children in poverty also often depend on 
pooled resources (including SNAP benefits) from ex-
tended family members who do not claim them as 
dependents. 
(14) Studies show that health impediments are 
a primary cause of why many SNAP recipients are 
unable to meet a work requirement. 
(15) Work requirements also cause an increase 
in the administrative bureaucracy, which some stud-
ies have shown, cause a significant reduction in 
SNAP participation. 
(16) Studies show that Black Americans are 
particularly vulnerable and are most likely to face 
recent unemployment and work requirements would 
disproportionately prevent Black people from having 
access to this important benefit. 
(17) Families experiencing homelessness are 
most likely to leave programs like SNAP when there 
is a work requirement, thereby increasing their vul-
nerability. 
(18) COVID-19 has made people more vulner-
able. A work requirement would serve to only further 
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burden those most at risk during the COVID-19 
pandemic. 
SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS. 
(a) WORK REQUIREMENT.—Section 6 of the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended— 
(1) 
in 
subsections 
(d)(4)(B)(ii)(I)(bb), 
(d)(4)(N)(iii)(I)(bb), 
(d)(4)(N)(iv)(II), 
and 
(d)(4)(N)(v)(IV) by striking ‘‘or subsection (o)’’, and 
(2) by striking subsection (o). 
(b) ADDITIONAL ALLOCATIONS FOR STATES THAT 
ENSURE AVAILABILITY OF WORK OPPORTUNITIES.—Sec-
tion 16(h)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2025(h)(1)) is amended by striking subparagraph 
(E). 
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 7(i)(1) of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(i)(1)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘section 6(o)(2) of this Act or’’. 
(2) Section 16(h) of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘that—’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘(I)’’, and 
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(II) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘6(o)’’, and 
(ii) 
in 
subparagraph 
(F)(ii)(III)(ee)(AA) by striking ‘‘, individ-
uals subject to the requirements under sec-
tion 6(o),’’, and 
(B) in paragraph (5)(C)— 
(i) in clause (ii) by inserting ‘‘and’’ at 
the end, and 
(ii) in clause (iii) by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘appropriate’’. 
SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) 
INTERNAL
REVENUE
CODE.—Section 
51(d)(8)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 
U.S.C. 51(d)(8)(A)(ii)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘family—’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘(I)’’ and inserting ‘‘family’’, and 
(2) by striking ‘‘, or’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘of 2008’’. 
(b) WORKFORCE INNOVATION
AND OPPORTUNITY 
ACT.—The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 103(a)(2) by striking subpara-
graph (D), and 
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(2) in section 121(b)(2)(B) by striking clause 
(iv). 
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS. 
(a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), this Act and the amendments made by this 
Act shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
(b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) The amendments made by section 2 shall 
not apply with respect to an allotment issued under 
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 
et seq.) before the effective date of this Act. 
(2) The amendments made by section 3(a) shall 
not apply to individuals hired before the expiration 
of the 90-day period that begins on the effective 
date of this Act. 
Æ 
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