Sen. Husted introduces FEED Act to support CTE students

COLUMBUS, Ohio — United States Sen. Jon Husted on Friday introduced legislation aimed at helping low-income students stay enrolled in career and technical education programs without putting their families’ food assistance at risk.

The Food Eligibility for Education and Development (FEED) Act would update Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules so students ages 18 to 21 enrolled in approved CTE programs could work part-time without their earnings counting against their household’s benefits.

“Students enrolled in career and technical education programs are working hard to prepare for high-skill, high-demand jobs,” Husted said in a statement. “My bill corrects outdated SNAP laws so CTE students enrolled in SNAP can continue their education without jeopardizing their families’ benefits.”

More than 130,000 high school students are enrolled in CTE programs in Ohio, according to Husted’s office. 

Current federal SNAP eligibility rules require that wages earned through such programs be counted as part of a household’s income, which can reduce or eliminate benefits. Husted’s office estimates that as many as 50,000 Ohioans between the ages of 18 and 21 are not participating in work-based learning because of the income calculation rules.

The measure would exempt wages earned by students in CTE programs from being counted toward a household’s income when determining SNAP eligibility.