OMAHA- During two roundtables on Monday, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts highlighted the value of Nebraska's SNAP Next Step Program, which seeks to offer job training to those receiving the benefits. Since its passage in 2016, over 906 Nebraskans have enrolled in the program, allowing hundreds of Nebraskans receiving SNAP to work towards higher education and job training. Now, Ricketts said he plans to introduce a similar plan on the federal level, and told a crowd of around 20 Nebraskans at Heartland Workforce Solutions in Omaha that he would encourage other states to adopt the program.

"We don't want anybody to be a net loser on this," said Ricketts, "We want people to be able to improve their income." According to Shannon Grotrian, interim deputy director of the Division of Children and Family Services for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, helping people overcome the fear of losing benefits before they are financially ready is vital, and both Ricketts' proposed plan, as well as Nebraska's current plan, seek to do just that. "One of the fears people have is what happens if I take that job," said Grotrian, "This program and its casework help people be confident."

Ricketts illustrated to the crowd just how effective Nebraska's program is, telling them that around 60% of SNAP Next Step participants now earn enough to no longer need SNAP benefits. Statistics from the DHHS show that program participants, upon joining the program, make an average of $265.49 a month, and eventually $2,421.75 a month after securing a job with the program's help. Ricketts' federal SNAP Program is set to be introduced this week, and will act as the former Governor's first standalone legislative proposal.

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