H.R. 3943 – Opportunity To Address College Hunger Act

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Updated November 23, 2025 at 11:57 PM UTC

The Opportunity To Address College Hunger Act amends the Higher Education Act to require institutions that receive federal work‑study grants to inform their work‑study students about potential eligibility for SNAP, the federal food assistance program. The bill aims to help low‑income college students learn about and access nutrition benefits, targeting those on work‑study or Pell Grant aid. Notifications must be electronic, state‑specific, and include proof of work‑study participation, with the Education and Agriculture secretaries providing guidance on implementation.

Key Provisions

Colleges and universities that receive federal work‑study funding must email each student who gets work‑study aid a notice about the possibility of qualifying for SNAP (food assistance).
The notice must be created by the Education Secretary in consultation with the Agriculture Secretary and should include state‑specific eligibility rules, how to get more information, and contact details for the local SNAP office.
The notice must also contain an official document confirming the student’s work‑study status, which can be used to show they are exempt from a SNAP ineligibility rule.
The Education Secretary, working with the Agriculture Secretary, must issue guidance to states and schools on how to identify and reach students likely to qualify for SNAP.
For this purpose, “eligible student” is defined as anyone receiving work‑study aid or eligible for a Pell Grant.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

June 12, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 12, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

June 12, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 12, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3943

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 12, 2025

Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Takano, Ms. Balint, Ms. Barragán, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Carson, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Courtney, Ms. Crockett, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Lynch, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Peters, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Raskin, and Ms. Sherrill) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to provide notice to students receiving work-study assistance about potential eligibility for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Opportunity To Address College Hunger Act.

2.

Notification regarding SNAP for students receiving Federal work-study assistance

Section 443 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087–53) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(f)

Notification regarding SNAP

(1)

In general

An institution receiving a grant under this part shall send a notification (by email or other electronic means) to each eligible student informing the student of their potential eligibility for participation in SNAP and the process for obtaining more information, confirming eligibility, and accessing benefits under that program. The notification shall be developed by the Secretary of Education in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, and shall include details on eligibility requirements for participation in SNAP that a student must satisfy. The notification shall be, to the extent practicable, specific to the student’s State of residence and shall provide contact information for the local office where an application for SNAP may be made.

(2)

Evidence of participation in federally financed work-study program

The notification under paragraph (1) shall include an official document confirming that the recipient is an eligible student sufficient for purposes of demonstrating that the exclusion from ineligibility for participation in SNAP under section 6(e)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(e)(4)) applies to the student.

(3)

Guidance

The Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall provide guidance to States and institutions of higher education on how to identify and communicate with students who are likely to be eligible for SNAP, including those eligible for a State or federally financed work-study program.

(4)

Definitions

For purposes of this subsection:

(A)

The term eligible student means—

(i)

a student receiving work-study assistance under this part; and

(ii)

a student who is eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant under section 401.

(B)

The term SNAP means the supplemental nutrition assistance program (as defined in section 3(t) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(t))).

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