This bill would narrow who can receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by limiting eligibility to lawful permanent residents who have lived lawfully in the United States for at least 10 years. In practice, it would exclude many other immigrants who can currently qualify under existing federal rules. The change would be administered through the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which governs SNAP. The proposal does not change the basic structure of SNAP benefits, but it would make the program less accessible for certain noncitizen households.
What This Bill Does
- Limits SNAP eligibility to lawful permanent residents only
- Requires 10 years of lawful residence after admission as an LPR
- Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
- Changes who can receive food assistance, not SNAP benefit amounts
- Applies through the federal SNAP eligibility rules used by states
Who This Bill Affects
If you are a lawful permanent resident who has not yet lawfully resided in the United States for 10 years, this bill would cut off your access to SNAP benefits. If you are eligible under current rules through another immigrant category but do not meet the new green-card-and-ten-year standard, you would lose or be unable to receive food assistance, which could force tighter household budgets and greater food insecurity.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisWho Supports & Opposes This
- Fiscal conservatives They may argue that SNAP should be reserved for immigrants with a longer record of legal residence and contribution in the United States. They can also say the bill reduces federal outlays by narrowing the pool of eligible recipients.
- Immigration restriction advocates They are likely to support stricter eligibility standards as a way to tie public benefits more closely to permanent legal status and long-term residency. In their view, the bill reinforces the idea that safety-net programs should prioritize established residents.
- Some taxpayers and budget hawks They may see the measure as a straightforward way to limit spending in a major federal benefits program. The appeal is that it removes a category of recipients rather than reducing benefit levels for everyone.
- Anti-hunger and poverty advocates They are likely to argue that the bill would increase food insecurity for low-income households that already face rising grocery prices. They may also say that denying help to legally present immigrants can push children and families into deeper hardship.
- Immigrant-serving community organizations They are likely to oppose the bill because it would make eligibility rules more restrictive for lawful permanent residents during the first decade of residence. Their concern is that families who are working and paying taxes could still be left without basic nutrition support.
- State and local social service providers They may warn that stricter eligibility rules can increase demand at food banks, charities, and emergency assistance programs. That can shift costs away from SNAP and onto local systems that are often already stretched thin.
Key Implications
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““restrict the eligibility of aliens to receive supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits””
This is the core policy change: it narrows who can qualify for SNAP based on immigration status. For affected households, the result is a direct loss of access to monthly grocery assistance.
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““lawful permanent residents””
The bill narrows eligibility to green-card holders rather than broader categories of noncitizens. That means lawful immigrants who are not permanent residents would be excluded even if they otherwise meet income and household rules.
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““lawfully reside in the United States for at least 10 years””
This adds a long waiting period before eligibility starts. Newly admitted permanent residents would have to wait a decade before qualifying, which can be significant for families trying to stabilize after arrival.
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““amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008””
The change would be written into the statute that governs SNAP nationwide. States would then have to apply the revised federal eligibility standard when determining who can receive benefits.
Official Source & Bill Facts
BillBoard checks this page against public Congress.gov metadata, then adds plain-English analysis where available.
- Bill
- HR 9456
- Congress
- 119th Congress
- Official title
- To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to restrict the eligibility of aliens to receive supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to aliens admitted to the United States as lawful permanent residents and who thereafter lawfully reside in the United States for at least 10 years.
- Policy area
- Immigration
- Latest action
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. (June 25, 2026)
- Last updated
- June 26, 2026
Latest Status
June 25, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
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