Eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) became a lightning rod in negotiations of the debt deal. The debt plan passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday and by the Senate on Thursday contains work requirements to get food benefits. It would also expand those work requirements to adults aged 50 to 54, a group that had previously been exempted. Republicans argued during negotiations that expanding work requirements would help more SNAP recipients get jobs and reduce their dependence on federal aid. Some progressive lawmakers cited the work requirement issue as their reason for not supporting the debt deal.

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Persons: Ty Jones Cox, Ellen Vollinger, Kevin McCarthy, Kofi Kenyatta, Colleen Young, Young, Leah Douglas, David Gregorio, Tom Hogue Organizations: Congress, Supplemental, Assistance, Food, Budget, Democrats, Republicans, SNAP, Veterans, Food Research, Action, Congressional, Office, Greater, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Thomson Locations: UpTogether, Greater Pittsburgh