CONGRESS DID NOT ACCEPT
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGE THE
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM.
THE PRESIDENT SAID SHE GOING
TO TRY TO CHANGE THE RULES
THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER AND
THAT HAS SOME PEOPLE UPSET.
JOHN DEKNOW HAS THE STORY.
Reporter: THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION IS CONSIDERING
TIGHTENING WORK REQUIREMENTS
FOR AMERICANS ON FOOD STAMPS.
THAT COULD ELIMINATE 750,000
AMERICANS FROM THE SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
OR SNAP.
IT HAS BECOME A WAY OF LIFE
FOR MANY ABLE BODIED WORKING
ADULTS WHO JUST RELIED ON FOOD
STAMPS WITHOUT LOOKING FOR A
JOB.
Reporter: THE AGRICULTURE
SECRETARY SONNY PERDUE SAYS
WITH UNEMPLOYMENT SO LOW, ABLED
BODY AMERICANS SHOULD BE
WORKING.
WE HAVE AN ECONOMY WITH 3.7%
UNEMPLOYMENT, MORE JOBS THAN
PEOPLE.
WE WANT TO RESTORE THE DIGNITY
OF WORK FOR THE AMERICAN
WORKER.
Reporter: BUT KEN REGAL WITH
A LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE NON-
PROFIT AGENCY SAYS THERE
ALREADY IS A WORK REQUIREMENT
FOR ABLE BODIED RECIPIENTS.
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THAT
CATEGORY ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO
THEY ARE DOCUMENTING THAT THEY
-- WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES THAT THEY ARE WORKING
AT LEAST 80 HOURS PER MONTH.
Reporter: THE TRUMP PLAN
WOULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR STATES
TO WAIVE WORK REQUIREMENTS
ALREADY IN PLACE.
WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT IS HIGH OUR
LOCAL JOBS ARE DEFINED.
REGAL SAYS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE ARE ON FOOD STAMPS IN
THIS REGION NO THE AVERAGE
HOUSEHOLD RECEIVES ABOUT $240 A
MONTH WITH FOOD STAMPS, AND
ABOUT $120 FOR THE AVERAGE
INDIVIDUAL.
Reporter: THE PROPOSED RULES
CHANGE COULD AFFECT MANY HERE,
SAYS REGAL.
THIS WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT
OF PICKING ABOUT THREE QUARTERS
OF A MILLION PEOPLE NATIONWIDE
OFF OF FOOD STAMPS, WITHOUT
REGARD TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY
CAN REALLY INDIVIDUALLY FIND A
JOB.
LOOKING FOR A JOB 80 HOUR AS
