Bill > HR5129

This bill, called the "Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025", proposes several significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. The bill would replace the current "thrifty food plan" with a new "low-cost food plan" as the basis for calculating SNAP benefits, defining this plan as a diet for a specific four-person family composition. The Secretary of Agriculture would be required to reevaluate and publish updates to this food plan every five years, considering current food prices, dietary guidance, and consumption patterns. The bill increases the maximum SNAP allotment from 8% to 10% and introduces a standard medical expense deduction starting at $140 for fiscal year 2023, with annual adjustments for inflation. Additionally, the bill eliminates the time limit for SNAP benefits for able-bodied adults without dependents, removing previous restrictions that limited benefit duration. The legislation also makes several technical amendments to adjust references in existing law to align with these changes, streamlining the SNAP benefits calculation and eligibility process to potentially provide more comprehensive nutritional support for low-income households.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5129/all-info