Bill > HR6200

Introduced Session

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide certain food assistance for eligible children during periods when their schools are closed due to a public health emergency; and for other purposes. This bill expands authority in FY2020 for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) during a public health emergency based on COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill authorizes USDA to approve state agency plans to provide SNAP benefits to households that include at least one eligible child and may or may not be participating in SNAP. An eligible child is a child who would be receiving free or reduced-price school meals if the child's school had not been closed for at least five consecutive days due to the public health emergency based on COVID-19. SNAP benefits provided must be no less than the value of school meals at the federal free rate over the course of five school days for each eligible child in the household. A state agency may provide SNAP benefits in accordance with the bill through the electronic benefits transfer card system.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Marcia Fudge (D)*,  Jahana Hayes (D),  Bobby Scott (D), 

Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (on 03/11/2020)

Official Document