This act removes the automatic ban preventing striking workers from receiving SNAP benefits.
John Fetterman
Senator
PA
The Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025 removes the automatic ban preventing workers participating in a strike from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This legislation updates eligibility rules to ensure that striking workers are no longer automatically disqualified from receiving food assistance solely because they are on strike. The bill simplifies the language to focus ineligibility on the *result* of striking, rather than the act of striking itself.
Food Secure Strikers Act Removes Automatic SNAP Ban for Workers on Strike
The “Food Secure Strikers Act of 2025” is a short, punchy piece of legislation that clarifies who can access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as food stamps, during a labor dispute. The core of this bill is simple: it removes the rule that automatically made workers ineligible for SNAP benefits just because they were participating in a strike (SEC. 2).
No More Automatic Penalty for Striking
Think of it this way: under the old law, if you and your coworkers went on a legal strike for better wages or safer conditions, the government essentially had a sign that read, “No food assistance for you.” The act of striking itself triggered an automatic disqualification from SNAP, regardless of how low your income was or how many kids you had to feed. This bill scraps that automatic ban. The language is cleaned up so that a person won't be ineligible for SNAP solely because they are on strike, eliminating that specific statutory penalty.
What This Means for Real People
This change matters immensely for the average worker. When a strike happens, paychecks stop, but bills and grocery needs don’t. For a single parent working in manufacturing or a warehouse, engaging in a strike often means choosing between exercising their right to collective bargaining and putting food on the table. This act removes that specific, heavy financial pressure.
Instead of automatic disqualification, eligibility will now be determined based on the standard SNAP criteria—namely, your household income and assets. If your income drops below the threshold because you’re not working during a strike, you can apply for temporary assistance just like anyone else who experiences a sudden loss of income. This levels the playing field, ensuring that the financial hardship of a labor dispute doesn't immediately become a food security crisis for working families. It’s a straightforward fix that focuses on need rather than the reason for the income loss, ensuring that the safety net remains intact when workers are exercising their legal rights.