summary
Introduced
04/26/2021
04/26/2021
In Committee
07/01/2021
07/01/2021
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2023
01/03/2023
Introduced Session
117th Congress
Bill Summary
A BILL To amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to repeal a certain disquali- fication to receive benefits under title IV of the Social Security Act and benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008; and to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide that incarcerated individuals who are scheduled to be released from an institution within 30 days shall be considered to be a household for pur- poses of such Act.
AI Summary
This bill, the Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021, proposes two key changes:
1. It repeals the ban on TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) assistance and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for individuals convicted of drug-related offenses, effectively removing the disqualification. This means that individuals with such convictions will no longer be barred from receiving these federal benefits.
2. It amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to consider incarcerated individuals who are scheduled to be released from an institution within 30 days as a household for the purpose of determining SNAP benefits. This change aims to ensure that these individuals can access SNAP benefits upon their impending release from incarceration.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources, Health and Social Services, Labor and Employment
Sponsors (42)
Steve Cohen (D)*,
Alma Adams (D),
Nanette Barragán (D),
Karen Bass (D),
Earl Blumenauer (D),
Suzanne Bonamici (D),
Tony Cárdenas (D),
André Carson (D),
Ed Case (D),
Emanuel Cleaver (D),
Jim Cooper (D),
Danny Davis (D),
Madeleine Dean (D),
Val Demings (D),
Theodore Deutch (D),
Dwight Evans (D),
Raúl Grijalva (D),
Jahana Hayes (D),
Steven Horsford (D),
Hank Johnson (D),
Marcy Kaptur (D),
Barbara Lee (D),
Gwen Moore (D),
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D),
Chellie Pingree (D),
Jamie Raskin (D),
Deborah Ross (D),
Bobby Rush (D),
Linda Sánchez (D),
Mary Gay Scanlon (D),
Jan Schakowsky (D),
Bobby Scott (D),
Albio Sires (D),
Adam Smith (D),
Marilyn Strickland (D),
Bennie Thompson (D),
Dina Titus (D),
Rashida Tlaib (D),
Lori Trahan (D),
David Trone (D),
Bonnie Watson Coleman (D),
Peter Welch (D),
Last Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations. (on 07/01/2021)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2837/all-info |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr2837/BILLS-117hr2837ih.pdf |
| Bill | https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr2837/BILLS-117hr2837ih.pdf.pdf |
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