I

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 2142

To amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to improve nutrition assistance

for working families and the elderly, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 12, 2001

Mr. WALSH (for himself, Mrs. CLAYTON, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. HALL of

Texas, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. LEACH, Ms.

LEE, Mrs. KELLY, Mr. LEVIN, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. QUINN,

Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. COYNE, and Ms. DELAURO) introduced

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture,

and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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

A BILL

To amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to improve nutrition

assistance for working families and the elderly, and for

other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Nutrition Assistance

5 for Working Families and Seniors Act of 2001’’.
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1 SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF FOOD STAMP BENEFITS FOR

2 LEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

3 (a) LIMITED ELIGIBILITY OF QUALIFIED ALIENS

4 FOR CERTAIN FEDERAL PROGRAMS.—

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 402(a) of the Per6 sonal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Rec7 onciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)) is

8 amended—

9 (A) in paragraph (2)—

10 (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking

11 ‘‘Federal programs’’ and inserting ‘‘Fed12 eral program’’;

13 (ii) in subparagraph (D)—

14 (I) by striking clause (ii); and

15 (II) in clause (i)—

16 (aa) by striking ‘‘(i)

17 SSI.—’’ and all that follows

18 through ‘‘paragraph (3)(A)’’ and

19 inserting the following:

20 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—With respect to

21 the specified Federal program described in

22 paragraph (3)’’;

23 (bb) by redesignating sub24 clauses (II) through (IV) as

25 clauses (ii) through (iv) and in26 denting appropriately;
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1 (cc) by striking ‘‘subclause

2 (I)’’ each place it appears and in3 serting ‘‘clause (i)’’; and

4 (dd) in clause (iv) (as redes5 ignated by item (bb)), by striking

6 ‘‘this clause’’ and inserting ‘‘this

7 subparagraph’’;

8 (iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking

9 ‘‘paragraph (3)(A) (relating to the supple10 mental security income program)’’ and in11 serting ‘‘paragraph (3)’’;

12 (iv) in subparagraph (F);

13 (I) by striking ‘‘Federal pro14 grams’’ and inserting ‘‘Federal pro15 gram’’;

16 (II) in clause (ii)(I)—

17 (aa) by striking ‘‘(I) in the

18 case of the specified Federal pro19 gram described in paragraph

20 (3)(A),’’; and

21 (bb) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and

22 inserting a period; and

23 (III) by striking subclause (II);
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1 (v) in subparagraph (G), by striking

2 ‘‘Federal programs’’ and inserting ‘‘Fed3 eral program’’;

4 (vi) in subparagraph (H), by striking

5 ‘‘paragraph (3)(A) (relating to the supple6 mental security income program)’’ and in7 serting ‘‘paragraph (3)’’; and

8 (vii) by striking subparagraphs (I),

9 (J), and (K); and

10 (B) in paragraph (3)—

11 (i) by striking ‘‘means any’’ and all

12 that follows through ‘‘The supplemental’’

13 and inserting ‘‘means the supplemental’’;

14 and

15 (ii) by striking subparagraph (B).

16 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section

17 402(b)(2)(F) of the Personal Responsibility and

18 Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8

19 U.S.C. 1612(b)(2)(F)) is amended by striking ‘‘sub20 section (a)(3)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(3)’’.

21 (b) FIVE-YEAR LIMITED ELIGIBILITY OF QUALIFIED

22 ALIENS FOR FEDERAL MEANS-TESTED PUBLIC BEN23 EFIT.—Section 403 of the Personal Responsibility and

24 Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.

25 1613) is amended—
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1 (1) in subsection (c)(2), by adding at the end

2 the following:

3 ‘‘(L) Assistance or benefits under the Food

4 Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).’’;

5 and

6 (2) in subsection (d)—

7 (A) by striking ‘‘not apply’’ and all that

8 follows through ‘‘(1) an individual’’ and insert9 ing ‘‘not apply to an individual’’; and

10 (B) by striking ‘‘; or’’ and all that follows

11 through ‘‘402(a)(3)(B)’’.

12 (c) AUTHORITY FOR STATES TO PROVIDE FOR AT13 TRIBUTION OF SPONSOR’S INCOME AND RESOURCES TO

14 THE ALIEN WITH RESPECT TO STATE PROGRAMS.—Sec15 tion 422(b) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Op16 portunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1632(b))

17 is amended by adding at the end the following:

18 ‘‘(8) Programs comparable to assistance or ben19 efits under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.

20 2011 et seq.).’’.

21 (d) REQUIREMENTS FOR SPONSOR’S AFFIDAVIT OF

22 SUPPORT.—Section 423(d) of the Personal Responsibility

23 and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8

24 U.S.C. 1183a note; Public Law 104–193) is amended by

25 adding at the end the following:
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1 ‘‘(12) Benefits under the Food Stamp Act of

2 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), if a sponsor is unable

3 to make the reimbursement because the sponsor ex4 periences hardship (including bankruptcy, disability,

5 and indigence) or if the sponsor experiences severe

6 circumstances beyond the control of the sponsor, as

7 determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.’’.

8 (e) DERIVATIVE ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS.—Sec9 tion 436 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Oppor10 tunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1646) is re11 pealed.

12 (f) EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMEND13 MENTS.—

14 (1) EFFECTIVE DATE—Except as provided in

15 paragraph (2), this section and the amendments

16 made by this section shall take effect on April 1,

17 2002.

18 (2) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS TO CUR19 RENT CERTIFICATION PERIODS.—The amendments

20 made by subsections (a) through (d) shall—

21 (A) not apply to certification periods that

22 begin before April 1, 2002, and end before or

23 on October 1, 2002, unless the State agency (as

24 defined in section 3 of the Food Stamp Act of

25 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2012)) involved elects to make
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1 such amendments applicable before the respec2 tive ends of such periods, but not before April

3 1, 2002; and

4 (B) apply on October 1, 2002, to certifi5 cation periods that begin before April 1, 2002,

6 and end after October 1, 2002, unless the State

7 agency involved elects to make such amend8 ments applicable to such periods on a date be9 fore October 1, 2002, but not before April 1,

10 2002.

11 SEC. 3. PREVENTION OF HUNGER AMONG FAMILIES WITH

12 CHILDREN.

13 (a) STANDARD DEDUCTION.—Section 5(e) of the

14 Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)) is amended

15 by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

16 ‘‘(1) STANDARD DEDUCTION.—

17 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara18 graph (B), the Secretary shall allow a standard

19 deduction for each household in the 48 contig20 uous States and the District of Columbia, Alas21 ka, Hawaii, Guam, and the Virgin Islands of

22 the United States equal to the applicable per23 centage established under subparagraph (C) of

24 the income standard of eligibility under sub25 section (c)(1).
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1 ‘‘(B) LIMITATIONS.—The standard deduc2 tion for each household in the 48 contiguous

3 States and the District of Columbia, Alaska,

4 Hawaii, Guam, and the Virgin Islands of the

5 United States under subparagraph (A) shall not

6 be—

7 ‘‘(i) less than $134, $229, $189,

8 $269, and $118, respectively; or

9 ‘‘(ii) more than the applicable percent10 age specified in subparagraph (C) of the

11 income standard of eligibility established

12 under section (c)(1) for a household of 6

13 members.

14 ‘‘(C) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE.—The ap15 plicable percentage referred to in subpara16 graphs (A) and (B) shall be—

17 ‘‘(i) for fiscal year 2002, 8 percent;

18 ‘‘(ii) for fiscal year 2003, 8.5 percent;

19 ‘‘(iii) for fiscal year 2004, 9 percent;

20 ‘‘(iv) for fiscal year 2005, 9.5 percent;

21 and

22 ‘‘(v) for each subsequent fiscal year,

23 10 percent.’’.

24 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by

25 this section shall take effect on—
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1 (1) July 1, 2002; or

2 (2) October 1, 2002, if the State agency (as de3 fined in section 3 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977

4 (7 U.S.C. 2012)) involved elects to make such

5 amendment effective on such later date.

6 SEC. 4. ENCOURAGEMENT OF COLLECTION OF CHILD SUP7 PORT.

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5(e)(2) of the Food

9 Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(2)) is amended—

10 (1) by inserting ‘‘AND CHILD SUPPORT’’ after

11 ‘‘INCOME’’;

12 (2) in subparagraph (A) by—

13 (A) striking ‘‘DEFINITION OF’’ and all that

14 follows through ‘‘not include’’ and inserting

15 ‘‘LIMITATION ON DEDUCTION.—The deduction

16 in this paragraph shall not apply to’’;

17 (B) striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of clause (i);

18 (C) striking the period at the end of clause

19 (ii) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

20 (D) adding at the end the following:

21 ‘‘(iii) child support received to the ex22 tent of any reduction in public assistance

23 to the household as a result of receiving

24 such support.’’; and

25 (3) in subparagraph (B)—
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1 (A) by striking ‘‘with earned income’’; and

2 (B) by striking ‘‘of all’’ and all that follows

3 through the period at the end, and inserting the

4 following:

5 ‘‘of the sum of—

6 ‘‘(i) all earned income; and

7 ‘‘(ii) child support received from an

8 identified or putative parent of a child in

9 the household if that parent is not a house10 hold member.’’.

11 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by

12 this section shall take effect on—

13 (1) July 1, 2002; or

14 (2) October 1, 2002, if the State agency (as de15 fined in section 3 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977

16 (7 U.S.C. 2012)) involved elects to make such

17 amendment effective on such later date.

18 SEC. 5. MINIMUM FOOD STAMP ALLOTMENT.

19 Section 8(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7

20 U.S.C. 2017(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘shall be $10 per

21 month.’’ and inserting ‘‘shall be—

22 ‘‘(1) for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003,

23 $15 per month;

24 ‘‘(2) for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005,

25 $20 per month;
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1 ‘‘(3) for fiscal year 2006, $25 per month;

2 ‘‘(4) for fiscal year 2007 and each subsequent

3 fiscal year, the minimum allotment under paragraph

4 (3), adjusted on each October 1 to reflect the per5 centage change in the cost of the thrifty food plan

6 (as adjusted under section 3(o) without regard to

7 paragraphs (1) through (4) of such section) during

8 the period beginning on June 30, 2005, and ending

9 on the most recent June 30 preceding such fiscal

10 year, rounded to the nearest lower dollar incre11 ment.’’.

12 SEC. 6. TRANSITIONAL BENEFITS OPTION.

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 11 of the Food Stamp Act

14 of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended by adding at the end

15 the following:

16 ‘‘(s) TRANSITIONAL BENEFITS OPTION.—

17 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State may provide tran18 sitional food stamp benefits to a household that is

19 no longer eligible to receive cash assistance under a

20 State program funded under part A of title IV of the

21 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

22 ‘‘(2) TRANSITIONAL BENEFITS PERIOD.—Under

23 paragraph (1), a household may continue to receive

24 food stamp benefits for a period of not more than
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1 6 months after the date on which cash assistance is

2 terminated.

3 ‘‘(3) AMOUNT.—During the transitional bene4 fits period under paragraph (2), a household shall

5 receive an amount equal to the allotment received in

6 the month immediately preceding the date on which

7 cash assistance is terminated, adjusted for—

8 ‘‘(A) the change in household income as a

9 result of the termination of cash assistance; and

10 ‘‘(B) any changes in circumstances that

11 may result in an increase in the food stamp al12 lotment of the household and that the house13 hold elects to report (as verified in accordance

14 with standards established by the Secretary).

15 ‘‘(4) DETERMINATION OF FUTURE ELIGI16 BILITY.—In the final month of the transitional bene17 fits period under paragraph (2), the State agency

18 may—

19 ‘‘(A) require a household to cooperate in a

20 redetermination of eligibility to receive uninter21 rupted benefits after the transitional benefits

22 period; and

23 ‘‘(B) renew eligibility for a new certifi24 cation period for the household without regard
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1 to whether the previous certification period has

2 expired.

3 ‘‘(5) LIMITATION.—A household sanctioned

4 under section 6 shall not be eligible for transitional

5 benefits under this subsection.’’.

6 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—

7 (1) Section 3 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977

8 (7 U.S.C. 2012) is amended by striking subsection

9 (c) and inserting the following:

10 ‘‘(c) CERTIFICATION PERIOD.—

11 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—‘Certification period’ means

12 the period for which households shall be eligible to

13 receive benefits under this Act.

14 ‘‘(2) DURATION.—

15 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A certification period

16 shall not exceed 12 months, except that—

17 ‘‘(i) a certification period may be up

18 to 24 months if all adult household mem19 bers are elderly or disabled; and

20 ‘‘(ii) a certification period may be ex21 tended during the transitional benefits pe22 riod under section 11(s).

23 ‘‘(B) EXTENSION.—The certification pe24 riod may be extended to the end of a transi-
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1 tional benefits period established by a State

2 under section 11(s).

3 ‘‘(3) CONTACT.—A State agency shall have at

4 least 1 contact with each certified household—

5 ‘‘(A) at least once every 12 months; or

6 ‘‘(B) in a case in which the household is in

7 a transitional benefits period under section

8 11(s), within the 6-month period beginning on

9 the date on which cash assistance is termi10 nated.’’.

11 (2) Section 6(c) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977

12 (7 U.S.C. 2015(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘No

13 household’’ and inserting ‘‘Except in a case in which

14 a household is receiving transitional benefits during

15 the transitional benefits period under section 11(s),

16 no household’’.

17 SEC. 7. FOOD STAMP INFORMATION.

18 (a) TRAINING MATERIALS; NUTRITION INFORMA19 TION.—Section 11 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7

20 U.S.C. 2020) (as amended by section 6) is amended by

21 adding at the end the following:

22 ‘‘(t) RESOURCES FOR STATE AGENCY EMPLOYEES.—

23 Of funds made available under the 1st sentence of section

24 18(a) for fiscal years 2002 through 2006, $1,000,000 in

25 the aggregate shall be expended by the Secretary—
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1 ‘‘(1) to develop, in partnership with State agen2 cies, training materials, guidebooks, and other re3 sources for use by employees of State agencies that

4 focus on issues of access and eligibility under the

5 food stamp program; and

6 ‘‘(2) to make such materials, such guidebooks,

7 and such other resources available in appropriate

8 formats to State agencies for such use.

9 ‘‘(u) NUTRITION INFORMATION.—The Secretary

10 shall maintain a toll-free information number for individ11 uals to call to obtain information concerning the nutrition

12 programs.’’.

13 (b) INTER-PROGRAM COORDINATION OF APPLICA14 TION AND VERIFICATION PROCESS.—Section 17 of the

15 Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2026) is amended by

16 striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:

17 ‘‘(e) PILOT PROJECTS FOR INTER-PROGRAM COORDI18 NATION OF APPLICATION AND VERIFICATION PROCESS.—

19 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide

20 the Federal shares of funds to States to carry out

21 pilot projects under paragraph (2) to improve the

22 application and verification process for low-income

23 working households to participate in the food stamp

24 program.

25 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—
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1 ‘‘(A) INTER-PROGRAM APPLICATION PROC2 ESS.—

3 ‘‘(i) APPLICATION AT ONE-STOP DE4 LIVERY CENTERS.—The Secretary shall

5 provide funding to not more than 5 States

6 to conduct pilot projects to improve inter7 program coordination by co-locating em8 ployees and automated systems necessary

9 to accept complete initial processing of ap10 plications for assistance under this Act at

11 centers in one-stop delivery systems estab12 lished under section 134(c) of the Work13 force Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C.

14 2864(c)).

15 ‘‘(ii) APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE

16 UNDER MEDICAID/SCHIP.—The Secretary

17 shall provide funding to not more than 5

18 States to conduct pilot projects to improve

19 inter-program coordination by co-locating

20 employees and automated systems nec21 essary to accept complete initial processing

22 of applications for assistance under this

23 Act at locations where applications are re24 ceived for assistance under titles XIX and
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1 XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

2 1396 et seq. and 1397aa et seq.).

3 ‘‘(B) INTER-PROGRAM VERIFICATION

4 PROCESS.—

5 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary

6 shall provide funding to not more than 5

7 States to conduct pilot projects to reduce

8 administrative burdens on low-income

9 working households by coordinating, to the

10 maximum extent practicable, verification

11 practices under this Act and verification

12 practices under titles XIX and XXI of the

13 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et

14 seq. and 1397aa et seq.).

15 ‘‘(ii) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to

16 conduct a pilot project under clause (i), a

17 State must have an automation system

18 with the capacity to verify through elec19 tronic records the most common sources of

20 incomes under this Act and titles XIX and

21 XXI of the Social Security Act.

22 ‘‘(iii) ADMINISTRATION.—The Sec23 retary and the Secretary of Health and

24 Human Services shall adjust procedures

25 under this Act and titles XIX and XXI of
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1 the Social Security Act, to the extent each

2 of the Secretaries determines appropriate,

3 to facilitate pilot projects under clause (i).

4 ‘‘(3) PREFERENCES.—In selecting pilot projects

5 under this subsection, the Secretary shall provide a

6 preference to projects that—

7 ‘‘(A) operate in rural areas; or

8 ‘‘(B) benefit low-income households resid9 ing in remote rural areas.

10 ‘‘(4) WAIVER.—To reduce travel and paperwork

11 burdens on eligible households, the Secretary may

12 waive requirements under sections 6(c) and 11(e)(3)

13 for pilot projects conducted under this subsection.

14 ‘‘(5) EVALUATION OF PILOT PROJECTS.—Any

15 State conducting a pilot project under this sub16 section shall provide to the Secretary, in accordance

17 with standards established by the Secretary, an eval18 uation of the effectiveness of the project.

19 ‘‘(6) FUNDING.—Of funds made available under

20 the first sentence of section 18(a) for each of fiscal

21 years 2002 and 2003, the Secretary shall use—

22 ‘‘(A) $10,000,000 to pay 75 percent of the

23 additional costs incurred by State agencies to

24 conduct pilot projects under paragraph 2(A);

25 and
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1 ‘‘(B) $500,000 to pay 75 percent of the

2 costs of evaluating pilot projects conducted

3 under paragraph 2(B).’’.

4 (c) INNOVATIVE PARTICIPATION STRATEGIES.—Sec5 tion 17 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2026)

6 is amended by adding at the end the following:

7 ‘‘(l) INNOVATIVE OUT-OF-OFFICE APPLICATION AND

8 PARTICIPATION STRATEGIES.—

9 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall con10 duct demonstration projects to evaluate the feasi11 bility and desirability of allowing eligible households

12 to participate in the food stamp program through

13 the use of the Internet and telephones instead of

14 through in-office visits and interviews.

15 ‘‘(2) PREFERENCES.—The Secretary shall pro16 vide a preference under this subsection to projects

17 that—

18 ‘‘(A)(i) are conducted in rural areas; or

19 ‘‘(ii) serve eligible households in remote lo20 cations; and

21 ‘‘(B) are collaborative efforts between

22 State agencies and nonprofit community

23 groups.

24 ‘‘(m) GRANTS FOR PARTNERSHIPS AND TECH25 NOLOGY.—
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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide

2 grants to State agencies and nonprofit organizations

3 to conduct projects to improve access to the food

4 stamp program through partnerships and innovative

5 technology.

6 ‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—In providing grants under this

7 subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to

8 projects that focus on households with low food

9 stamp participation.

10 ‘‘(n) GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND

11 INNOVATIVE OUTREACH STRATEGIES.—

12 ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es13 tablish a program to award grants to eligible organi14 zations described in paragraph (2)—

15 ‘‘(A) to develop and test innovative strate16 gies to ensure that low-income needy eligible

17 households that contain 1 or more members

18 that are former or current recipients of benefits

19 under a State program established under part

20 A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42

21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) continue to receive benefits

22 under this Act if the households meet the re23 quirements of this Act;

24 ‘‘(B) to help ensure that households that

25 have applied for benefits under a State program
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1 established under part A of title IV of the So2 cial Security Act, but that did not receive the

3 benefits because of State requirements or ineli4 gibility for the benefits, are aware of the avail5 ability of, and are provided assistance in receiv6 ing, benefits under this Act if the households

7 meet the requirements of this Act;

8 ‘‘(C) to conduct outreach to households

9 with earned income that is at or above the in10 come eligibility limits for benefits under a State

11 program established under part A of title IV of

12 the Social Security Act if the households meet

13 the requirements of this Act; and

14 ‘‘(D) to conduct outreach to households

15 with children if the households meet the re16 quirements of this Act.

17 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.—

18 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Grants under para19 graph (1) may be provided to—

20 ‘‘(i) food banks, food rescue organiza21 tions, faith-based organizations, and other

22 organizations that supply food to low-in23 come households;

24 ‘‘(ii) schools, school districts, health

25 clinics, non-profit day care centers, Head
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1 Start agencies under the Head Start Act

2 (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), Healthy Start

3 agencies under section 301 of the Public

4 Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241), and

5 State agencies and local agencies providing

6 assistance under the special supplemental

7 nutrition program for women, infants, and

8 children established under section 17 of

9 the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42

10 U.S.C. 1786);

11 ‘‘(iii) local agencies that operate child

12 nutrition programs (as those terms are de13 fined in section 25(b) of the Richard B.

14 Russell National School Lunch Act (42

15 U.S.C. 1769f(b)); and

16 ‘‘(iv) other organizations designated

17 by the Secretary.

18 ‘‘(B) GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF

19 RECIPIENTS.—

20 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.— Subject to clause

21 (ii), the Secretary shall select, from all eli22 gible applications, at least 1 recipient to

23 receive a grant under this subsection

24 from—
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1 ‘‘(I) each region of the Depart2 ment of Agriculture; and

3 ‘‘(II) in addition to recipients se4 lected under subclause (I), each rural

5 or urban area determined to be appro6 priate by the Secretary.

7 ‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary

8 shall not be required to award grants

9 based on the geographical guidelines under

10 clause (i) to the extent that the Secretary

11 determines that an insufficient number of

12 eligible grant applications has been re13 ceived.

14 ‘‘(3) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall develop

15 criteria for awarding grants under paragraph (1)

16 that are based on—

17 ‘‘(A) the demonstrated record of an organi18 zation in serving low-income households;

19 ‘‘(B) the ability of an organization to reach

20 hard-to-serve households;

21 ‘‘(C) the level of innovation in the pro22 posals submitted in the application of an orga23 nization for a grant; and
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1 ‘‘(D) the development of partnerships be2 tween the public and private sector entities and

3 the community.

4 ‘‘(4) ADMINISTRATION.—

5 ‘‘(A) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more

6 than 5 percent of the funds made available for

7 the grant program under paragraph (5) shall be

8 used by the Secretary for administrative costs

9 incurred in carrying out this subsection.

10 ‘‘(B) PROGRAM EVALUATIONS.—

11 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary

12 shall conduct evaluations of programs

13 funded by grants under this subsection.

14 ‘‘(ii) LIMITATION.—Not more than 20

15 percent of funds made available for the

16 grant program under paragraph (5) shall

17 be used for program evaluations under

18 clause (i).

19 ‘‘(5) FUNDING.—Of funds made available under

20 the first sentence of section 18(a) for each of fiscal

21 years 2002 and 2003, the Secretary shall use

22 $10,000,000 to carry out the grant program under

23 this subsection.’’.
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1 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR ADDI2 TIONAL COMMODITIES UNDER EMERGENCY

3 FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

4 Section 214 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act

5 of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7515) is amended by adding at the end

6 the following:

7 ‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to any other

9 funds that are made available to carry out this sec10 tion, there are authorized to be appropriated to pur11 chase and make available additional commodities

12 under this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal

13 years 2002 through 2006.

14 ‘‘(2) DIRECT EXPENSES.—Not less than 50

15 percent of the amount made available under para16 graph (1) shall be used to pay direct expenses (as

17 defined in section 204(a)(2)) incurred by emergency

18 feeding organizations to distribute additional com19 modities to needy persons.’’.

20 SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.

21 Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act and

22 the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the

23 1st day of the 1st month beginning more than 60 days

24 after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Æ