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Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-2192| Senate 
| Updated: 6/23/2021
Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Democratic Senator

New York

Cosponsors (6)
Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Closing the Meal Gap Act of 202 1 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 19-50 years of age, a child 6-8 years of age, and a child 9-11 years of age. USDA must (1) reevaluate and publish the market baskets of the plan by December 31, 2027, 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, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to participate in SNAP. Currently, the three territories receive block grants instead of participating in SNAP.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-3719
Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020
Jun 23, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Jun 23, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Jul 28, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-4077
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-3719
    Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020


  • June 23, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • June 23, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


  • July 28, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-4077
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.

Agriculture and Food

Related Bills

  • HR 117-4077: Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021
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 2021

USA117th CongressS-2192| Senate 
| Updated: 6/23/2021
Closing the Meal Gap Act of 202 1 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 19-50 years of age, a child 6-8 years of age, and a child 9-11 years of age. USDA must (1) reevaluate and publish the market baskets of the plan by December 31, 2027, 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, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to participate in SNAP. Currently, 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

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-3719
Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020
Jun 23, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Jun 23, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Jul 28, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-4077
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-3719
    Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020


  • June 23, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • June 23, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


  • July 28, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-4077
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Democratic Senator

New York

Cosponsors (6)
Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Agriculture and Food

Related Bills

  • HR 117-4077: Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021
  • 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