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Conaway ‘disappointed’ by Democrat response to SNAP proposal

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-Tex.) says he’s disappointed by comments from committee Democrats about Republican policy proposals for the Farm Bill nutrition title.  In a speech in his home state of Texas, Conaway said the GOP proposal includes a requirement that able-bodied working-age SNAP recipients spend 20 hours a week working or training for a work skill.

Ranking member Collin Peterson told Brownfield he and fellow Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee oppose the Republican work requirement proposal.  The impasse has brought Farm Bill debate to a halt.

In the speech, Conaway said that the SNAP work and training requirements can be a bridge to provide the unemployed with a job or a work skill.  He also said it’s an opportunity to reinvest savings back into job training.