Work requirements

(a) Declaration of policy Section 2 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011) is amended by adding at the end the following: Congress further finds that it should also be the purpose of the supplemental nutrition assistance program to increase employment, to encourage healthy marriage, and to promote prosperous self-sufficiency, which means the ability of households to maintain an income above the poverty level without services and benefits from the Federal Government.. (b) Definition of food Section 3(k) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(k)) is amended by striking means (1) and inserting means the following foods, food products, meals, and other items, only if the food, food product, meal, or other item is essential, as determined by the Secretary: (1). (c) General work requirements Section 6(d)(1)(A) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(1)(A)) is amended, in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 60 and inserting 65. (d) Hour-Based work requirement Section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking other than a supervised job search program or job search training program and inserting including an in-person supervised job search program; (2) in paragraph (3)(A)(ii)(III), by striking 55 and inserting 64; (3) in paragraph (4)(A)— (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking area and inserting county or county equivalent; (B) in clause (i), by striking or and inserting and; and (C) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following: (ii) is not located within a labor market area, as determined by data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that has an unemployment rate of over 10 percent.; (4) in paragraph (6)(D), by striking 15 percent and inserting 5 percent; (5) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); (6) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following: (7) Work or work preparation hours requirement for married couples with children The total combined number of hours of work or work preparation activities under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (2) for both spouses in a married couple household with 1 or more children over the age of 6 shall not be greater than the total number of hours required under those subparagraphs for a single head of household.; and (7) by inserting after paragraph (8) (as so redesignated) the following: (9) Minimum wage rule The limitation under subsection (d)(4)(F)(i) shall not apply to any work requirement, program, or activity required under this subsection..