WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) this week introduced the Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025, legislation to help more Americans access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as 3SquaresVT in Vermont. The Senators’ legislation would lift Republicans’ punitive three-month time limit on SNAP eligibility to allow able-bodied adults without dependents to receive benefits for longer than three months even if they are unable to 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.
“Trump’s disastrous economic policies have boxed Vermonters into a financial corner, forcing folks to choose between feeding their families or paying their bills. It’s an impossible choice, and it’s unacceptable that folks across the country have to make that call every day,” said Senator Welch. “Our bill makes it easier for Vermonters to get critical nutrition support and put food on the table when times are tough. This is an essential step, and I’m proud to join my colleagues to make SNAP more accessible for folks who need it.”
“Restoring access to SNAP for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) from ages 50-54 is critical,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Time and again it has been shown that increasing work requirements does not improve economic security, but in fact takes away food from our most vulnerable populations. Congress should be fighting to empower our citizens to achieve economic self-sufficiency instead of forcing people to go hungry.”
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 impact 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. Research also indicates that time limits for low-income beneficiaries do not lead to a meaningful increase in employment and decrease participation in SNAP, removing a crucial safety net for low-income participants who often have little to no safety net outside of SNAP benefits.
In addition to Senators Welch and Gillibrand, the Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025 is cosponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
The Improving Access to Nutrition Act is supported by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC).
Learn more about the Improving Access to Nutrition Act.
Read and download the full text of the bill.
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