Poliquin’s Maine-Based Welfare Reforms Pass the House

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm Bill, which includes two major pieces Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02) helped author: (1) Maine-based welfare reforms that include sensible work requirements for work-capable adults with no dependents, and (2) his bipartisan bill to help Maine’s wild blueberry industry and give our children greater access to healthy fruits and vegetables in their school cafeterias.

“It’s critical we help those who are capable of working and who are stuck in welfare learn the skills they need to be successful,” said Congressman Poliquin. “With the lowest Maine unemployment in decades, and an expanding American economy that is hiring more and more workers, it’s the right time for work-capable adults to become independent and access the opportunities to be successful. I’m pleased my Maine-based welfare reforms were approved in the House.”

The Farm Bill includes two major pieces Congressman Poliquin helped craft:

1. Welfare Reform:

Congressman Poliquin has proposed five changes to the national welfare system’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through his own bill, the Food Stamp Integrity Act (H.R.3151), based on Maine’s successful model.

The Farm Bill includes important changes to SNAP that are based on two of Poliquin’s five welfare reform proposals: (1) ensure those who choose to receive SNAP benefits are required to participate in a work program or SNAP employment and training programs, which are provided to them by the state, and (2) those who are delinquent in child support payments will be ineligible to receive taxpayer-funded SNAP benefits, with the guarantee that children’s benefits will not be cut.

The provision in the Farm Bill requires work-capable adults ages 18-59 to participate in at least 20 hours per week in a work program or SNAP employment and training program to receive benefits, with exemptions for parents with children under 6 or who are pregnant or disabled. All SNAP recipients who choose to participate in these programs will be completely accommodated by the state, with the full support of federal funds, to ensure it happens. States will have the ability to waive up to 15% of SNAP recipients from the work requirement and the ability to waive a geographic region with high unemployment.

2. Supporting Maine’s Blueberry Growers, Providing More Healthy Options in School Cafeterias:

The farm bill also includes Congressman Poliquin’s Fruit and Vegetable Access for Children Act (H.R.3402), a bipartisan bill that will give our children greater access to healthy fruits and vegetables in their school cafeterias.

Poliquin’s bill, which has the support of 14 Democratic and Republican cosponsors, will allow schools to have the option to use the money from USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) to purchase additional forms of fruits and vegetables—fresh, frozen, canned, pureed, and dried—expanding the number of nutritious food options for schoolchildren.

According to the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, there is overwhelming nutritional consensus that Americans should increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, including fresh, frozen, canned and dried. In its various forms, fruit and vegetables are nutritionally similar. The FFVP, whose goal is to educate children on the foods they eat, ensures school children in low-income areas across the country receive nutritious snacks while learning about the many benefits of eating fruits and vegetables. By including these forms of fruit and vegetables, we ensure they have a comprehensive education.

Congressman Poliquin’s bipartisan bill would allow schools to maximize the value of program dollars.