Husted in Columbus, Dayton highlighting FEED Act with career tech students

Husted visits with career tech students at Stebbins Career Tech Center in Dayton.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) today met with students and faculty at two career technical schools in Columbus and Dayton to highlight Husted's Food Eligibility for Education and Development (FEED) Act. This bill would update Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility rules so students aged 18 to 21 enrolled in approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs can work part-time without their earnings counting against their or their families' current SNAP benefits.

"Ohio and the nation need hardworking Americans more than ever to help fill critical job needs. The FEED Act updates SNAP laws so that career tech students can continue their education without losing the benefits their parents and siblings may rely on. If you can work, you should work, and the government should remove any barriers that may deter young people from taking the right steps to earn a great career," said Husted.

Husted visited with faculty and students from Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical School in Groveport and Stebbins Career Tech Center (CTC) in Dayton.

Eastland-Fairfield is one of Ohio's largest career and technical education districts, serving more than 5,000 students across 16 school districts in Franklin, Fairfield and Pickaway counties. The district offers more than 40 programs for high school and adult learners. Stebbins High School and CTC is a comprehensive high school educating 1,100 students enrolled in grades 9 to 12 and offering 10 CTE programs in 8 different pathways.

These visits build on Husted's work to equip students with the skills necessary to earn high-paying jobs, strengthening the workforce. As Ohio's lieutenant governor, Husted expanded career technical education to give more Ohio students access to skills training that enabled them to graduate high school career-ready. He also pioneered TechCred and the Individual Microcredential Assistance Program, a job training program that provides every Ohioan with access to the credentials they need to earn good jobs.

In addition, then-Lieutenant Governor Husted advocated to the Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services to approve the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services' request for a waiver to ensure students receiving career and technical education aren't jeopardizing their or their families' SNAP benefits, which his new legislation seeks to remedy.