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Committee rejects amendment to exempt cancer patients from SNAP work requirements
Summary
An amendment to ensure people undergoing cancer treatment would not lose SNAP benefits because they could not meet work requirements was defeated by roll call in the House Appropriations committee.
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida offered an amendment to ensure that people diagnosed with cancer or currently undergoing treatment would not lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits because they are unable to meet work requirements. She described the proposal as a narrowly targeted safeguard to prevent food loss for people undergoing active treatment.
Dr. Harris, the subcommittee chair, responded that SNAP already contains medical exceptions for both acute and chronic illness and that the reconciliation bill under discussion did not change those exceptions. He opposed the amendment on those grounds and said the protections already exist. Supporters including Representatives Bishop and Pingree urged adoption, arguing cancer patients face unique, debilitating treatment regimens and could be at risk if administrative hurdles are applied.
A roll-call vote followed after a voice vote; the clerk reported the ayes at 28 and the noes at 35 and the amendment was not adopted.
