May 09, 2025

Wyden, Merkley Co-Sponsor Bill to Expand Access to SNAP, Repeal Republicans’ Punitive Eligibility Rules

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they are co-sponsoring legislation that would help more Americans have access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a crucial safety net that stands between thousands of Oregonians and hunger. 

“Oregonians should not have to choose between putting food on the table and paying their bills,” Wyden said. “I am not going to stand by while Oregonians are forced to make that impossible choice because of the Trump Administration’s cruel and chaotic policies.” 

“Too many families in Oregon are working hard but still coming up short at the end of the month,” Merkley said. “Instead of putting up barriers for people who are already struggling, we should be expanding access to programs like SNAP that keep families afloat. The Improving Access to Nutrition Act pushes back against MAGA Republicans’ cruel economic policies and makes sure Oregonians can count on the help they need to get through hard times.”

Under current law, able-bodied adults without dependents between 18 to 49 years old are prohibited from receiving more than three months of SNAP benefits during a three-year period if they do not report at least 30 hours of work per week. These punitive requirements disproportionately hurt women and people of color—roughly half of all low-income able-bodied adults without dependents—and are often counterproductive given SNAP’s proven effectiveness in improving economic stability, food security, and wellbeing for participants. 

The Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025  would repeal Republicans’ punitive three-month time limit on SNAP eligibility to allow able-bodied adults without dependents to receive benefits for longer than three months if they cannot find work. The bill would also repeal additional eligibility criteria that imposes the three-month rule on adults up to age 54 over a three-year period.

In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the Improving Access to Nutrition Act was cosponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and led by Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). 

Full text of the bill is here.