S. 1336 · 118th Congress
Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2023
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 118th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
D
GillibrandSponsor11 cosponsors · 10 D, 1 I
D
Brown
CB
D
Booker
JF
D
Fetterman
EM
D
Markey
BS
I
Sanders
PW
D
Welch
EW
D
Warren
AP
D
Padilla
SW
D
Whitehouse
CM
D
Murphy
LB
D
Butler7 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill revises the requirements for calculating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Apr 27, 2023
Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2023
This bill revises the requirements for calculating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 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 ages 19-50 years,
- a child ages 6-8 years, and
- a child ages 9-11 years.
USDA must (1) reevaluate and publish the market baskets of the plan by December 31, 2029, and every five years thereafter, based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance; and (2) 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.
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 excess shelter expense deduction.
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.
The bill allows Puerto Rico to participate in SNAP. Currently, Puerto Rico receives a block grant instead of participating in SNAP. The bill also provides funding for Puerto Rico to receive a one-time USDA grant for the technology infrastructure necessary to implement SNAP.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2023
Latest action (Apr 27, 2023): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Policy area: Agriculture and Food · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Apr 27, 2023
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.