Davis bills dictate no federal benefits for certain welfare recipients without work

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) recently introduced two bills that would require unemployed, able-bodied, childless adults to work or volunteer no less than 20 hours per week to continue receiving their Medicaid or Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) benefits.

“If families have any chance at keeping up with skyrocketing inflation, which is raging above 8 percent, we have to incentivize work — and that starts with requiring able-bodied SNAP and Medicaid recipients to join, or rejoin, the workforce,” Rep. Davis said. “With smart reforms to federal programs, we can create jobs, grow our economy, and be better stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

Rep. Davis on June 9 sponsored the America Works Act of 2022, H.R. 8004, with 10 GOP original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Brian Mast (R-FL), John Joyce (R-PA), and Dave Joyce (R-OH).

If enacted, H.R. 8004 would restore and standardize work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents who are enrolled in SNAP to work or participate in work-related training or education for at least 20 hours per week in order to continue receiving their federal benefits, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Davis’ staff.

Also on June 9, Rep. Davis signed on as the lead original cosponsor of the Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act, H.R. 8014, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-KS) and seven fellow Republican cosponsors, including Reps. Johnson, Mast, and John Joyce, to impose a Medicaid work requirement directing all able-bodied adults to work or volunteer for no less than 20 hours per week, the summary says.

“Rep. Davis’ America Works Act and Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act would implement a popular and proven reform that lifts individuals from dependency and empowers them through work,” said bills supporter Tarren Bragdon, president and CEO of the Foundation for Government Accountability. “At a time of record-high open jobs and record-low labor force participation, there is no better time for Congress to embrace reforms that get Americans back to work.”

H.R. 8004 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, while H.R. 8014 is under review in the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.