Should Congress require states to drug-test SNAP applicants?
The Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Act requires states to screen or drug-test applicants for TANF, SNAP, and certain public housing programs. Applicants with a drug-related arrest in the past five years must be tested, while others are screened and only tested if deemed high-risk. To receive benefits, applicants must test negative. Those who test positive are ineligible until they complete treatment or later test negative. Eligible family members may still receive benefits, and states that do not enforce these rules face cuts to their federal funding.
Sponsor: Rep. David Rouzer (Republican, North Carolina, District 7)
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Opponents say
• "At the time of research and publication, no official opposing statements have been identified. This does not mean that nobody opposes the bill, nor does it mean that opposing statements will not be made in the future.
Proponents say
• "Most employers in this country require workers to pass drug tests as a prerequisite for employment. The government should expect the same of people who receive food stamps and other federal benefits. Additionally, taxpayers deserve to know that their money isn’t subsidizing a drug addiction, which only leads to a tragic life of dependency." Source: Rep. David Rouzer (Republican, North Carolina, District 7)
