A Nebraska Congressman is pushing for changes in federal poverty programs to assist those receiving federal assistance to gain employment.

Congressman Adrian Smith acknowledges increasing job training requirements to receive assistance would cut costs

Smith says seven million American men, ages 24 to 54, are not only not working, they aren’t even looking for work.

Time is running out for Congress to pass a Farm Bill before the current legislation expires.

Smith hopes negotiators for the House and Senate can reach agreement on legislation…and he hopes a House provision that would increase work requirements for those on SNAP, formerly food stamps, makes it through the negotiations.

The House version expands requirements for able-bodied adults who do not have young children and would eventually increase the minimum hours of work to 25 hours per week. The Senate version keeps current work requirements intact, but expands work training programs.