Kennedy explains how work requirements ensure only those in need receive food stamps: “It’s working”

Watch Kennedy's comments here.

WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today explained how the One Big Beautiful Bill's provision to require able-bodied Americans on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-commonly known as food stamps-to work, volunteer or attend school part time has helped protect the program for those who need it most in a speech on the U.S. Senate floor.

Key excerpts of the speech are below:

"Last year, we passed the One Big Beautiful Bill. One of the provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill was that we, in America, if you're hungry, we're going to feed you. We're going to give you food stamps. We don't want you to be hungry. But in return for those food stamps, if you're able-bodied, if you're not disabled, and you don't have kids at home, you got to go get a job. You got to work 20 hours a week or go to school for 20 hours a week or do community service for 20 hours a week. Fair trade.

"We said, 'We don't want to take food stamps away from people who need them. We want fewer people to need food stamps.' And it's working.

"And the full provision of the law is not even implemented. But so far, we have had four million people who were on food stamps . . . who have either decided they don't need food stamps, because they didn't want to work, or they've gone to work for a living, and they no longer need food stamps."

. . .

"When you say you have to work to get food stamps, and four million people say, we're off the food stamp rolls, one of two things have happened: You either really didn't need the food stamps, or you went to work, and you didn't need the food stamps. And we're going to have an even more meaningful impact as more and more states implement the work requirement.

"It was long overdue. We ought to extend it to every social program in America.

"And I'm not talking about-and we weren't talking about-taking food away from a mother with a sick child in her arms. This rule just applies to able-bodied people who aren't disabled, who aren't elderly, and who don't have kids at home. And all we require is they work 20 hours a week, or go to school for 20 hours a week and get job training, or do community service. It's working."

Watch Kennedy's speech here.