Hayes amendment to fully fund SNAP administrators fails after committee debate

Representative Mrs. Hayes (sponsor) proposed an amendment to the farm bill that would strike H.R. One’s administrative cost‑sharing changes and replace them with the SNAP Administrator Retention Act language to “cover 100% of the administrative personnel costs associated with hiring and retaining the staff who carry out the SNAP program and make sure that that information is up to date and accurate,” Hayes said. She argued a fully federalized administrative payroll would protect state budgets and program integrity and help ensure prompt benefits and fewer payment errors.

Supporters including Rep. Doctor Adams backed the change, saying it would relieve states’ budgets and protect service delivery. Opponents — led by the Committee’s majority floor supporters — warned the amendment carried significant budgetary implications, citing CBO scoring and the need for offsets and urged members to reject it. After discussion the committee voted against the amendment on a voice vote; a recorded vote was requested and proceedings were postponed for that item. The chair scheduled the matter for a later roll call.

Why it matters: SNAP is a major federal‑state partnership; changes to administrative cost‑sharing that shift costs to the federal government are central to how benefits are delivered and funded. Committee discussion highlighted the competing priorities of program integrity and fiscal constraints. The session left the item open for a recorded vote and preserved the text’s consideration in later steps of the process.