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Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020

USA116th CongressS-3719| Senate 
| Updated: 5/13/2020
Kamala D. Harris

Kamala D. Harris

Democratic Senator

California

Cosponsors (3)
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Robert Menendez (Democratic)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020 This bill revises the requirements for calculating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) benefits. The bill increases the minimum SNAP benefit and requires benefits to be calculated using the value of a low-cost food plan. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must determine the requirements for the low-cost food plan, which is the diet required to feed a family of four, consisting of a man and a woman 19-50 years of age, a child 6-8 years of age, and a child 9-11 years of age. USDA must make adjustments to the plan to account for household size, changes in the cost of the diet, and the costs of food in specified areas, including U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and American Samoa. The bill modifies the requirements for calculating household income to determine SNAP eligibility by (1) authorizing a standard medical expense deduction for households containing an elderly or disabled member, and (2) eliminating the cap on the deduction for excess shelter expenses. The bill eliminates certain work requirements for SNAP. The requirements apply to able-bodied adults who are ages 18-49 and have no dependent children. Under current law, the requirements are partially suspended due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The bill allows Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to participate in SNAP after submitting a plan of operation that is approved by USDA. Under current law, the three territories receive block grants instead of participating in SNAP.
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Timeline
Mar 15, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-1368
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
May 13, 2020
Introduced in Senate
May 13, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  • March 15, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-1368
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.


  • May 13, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 13, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Agriculture and Food

AgingAmerican SamoaCaribbean areaCongressional oversightDisability and paralysisEmployment and training programsFood assistance and reliefHealth care costs and insuranceNorthern Mariana IslandsPoverty and welfare assistancePuerto RicoU.S. territories and protectorates

Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020

USA116th CongressS-3719| Senate 
| Updated: 5/13/2020
Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020 This bill revises the requirements for calculating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) benefits. The bill increases the minimum SNAP benefit and requires benefits to be calculated using the value of a low-cost food plan. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must determine the requirements for the low-cost food plan, which is the diet required to feed a family of four, consisting of a man and a woman 19-50 years of age, a child 6-8 years of age, and a child 9-11 years of age. USDA must make adjustments to the plan to account for household size, changes in the cost of the diet, and the costs of food in specified areas, including U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and American Samoa. The bill modifies the requirements for calculating household income to determine SNAP eligibility by (1) authorizing a standard medical expense deduction for households containing an elderly or disabled member, and (2) eliminating the cap on the deduction for excess shelter expenses. The bill eliminates certain work requirements for SNAP. The requirements apply to able-bodied adults who are ages 18-49 and have no dependent children. Under current law, the requirements are partially suspended due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The bill allows Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to participate in SNAP after submitting a plan of operation that is approved by USDA. Under current law, the three territories receive block grants instead of participating in SNAP.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 15, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-1368
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
May 13, 2020
Introduced in Senate
May 13, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  • March 15, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-1368
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.


  • May 13, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 13, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Kamala D. Harris

Kamala D. Harris

Democratic Senator

California

Cosponsors (3)
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Robert Menendez (Democratic)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Agriculture and Food

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AgingAmerican SamoaCaribbean areaCongressional oversightDisability and paralysisEmployment and training programsFood assistance and reliefHealth care costs and insuranceNorthern Mariana IslandsPoverty and welfare assistancePuerto RicoU.S. territories and protectorates