Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require that supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits be calculated using the value of the low-cost food plan, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021 2. Calculation of program benefits using low-cost food plan (a) Definition of low-Cost food plan Section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2012 (1) by striking subsection (u); (2) by redesignating subsections (n) through (t) as subsections (o) through (u), respectively; and (3) by inserting after subsection (m) the following: (n) Low-Cost food plan (1) In general The term low-cost food plan (A) a man and a woman who are each between 19 and 50 years of age; (B) a child who is between 6 and 8 years of age; and (C) a child who is between 9 and 11 years of age. (2) Re-evaluation Not later than January 1, 2027, and at 5-year intervals thereafter, the Secretary shall re-evaluate and publish the market baskets of the low-cost food plan based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance. (3) Cost For purposes of paragraph (1), the cost of the diet described in that paragraph shall be the basis for uniform allotments for all households regardless of the actual composition of the household, except that the Secretary shall— (A) make household-size adjustments (based on the unrounded cost of that diet) taking into account economies of scale; (B) make cost adjustments in the low-cost food plan for the State of Hawaii and the urban and rural parts of the State of Alaska to reflect the cost of food in Hawaii and urban and rural Alaska, respectively; (C) make cost adjustments in the separate low-cost food plans for Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands, to reflect the cost of food in those territories, but not to exceed the cost of food in the 50 States and the District of Columbia; and (D) on October 1, 2021, and each October 1 thereafter, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect the cost of the diet in the immediately preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower-dollar increment for each household size. . (b) Value of allotment Section 8(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2017(a) (1) by striking thrifty food plan low-cost food plan (2) in the proviso, by striking 8 percent 10 percent (c) Quality control system Section 16(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(1)(A)(ii) (1) in subclause (I)— (A) by striking 2014, at an amount not greater than $37 2021, at an amount equal to not more than $50 (B) by striking and (2) in subclause (II)— (A) by striking (II) (III) (B) by striking thrifty food plan is adjusted under section 3(u)(4) low-cost food plan is adjusted under section 3(n)(2)(D) (C) by striking 2013 2022 (3) by inserting after subclause (I) the following: (II) for fiscal year 2022, the amount specified in subclause (I) shall be adjusted by the difference between the thrifty food plan and the low-cost food plan; and . (d) Conforming amendments (1) Section 10 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2019 3(o)(4) 3(p)(4) (2) Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2020 (A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking 3(s)(1) 3(t)(1) (B) in subsection (d)— (i) by striking 3(s)(1) 3(t)(1) (ii) by striking 3(s)(2) 3(t)(2) (iii) by striking Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450 and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (C) in subsection (e)(17), by striking 3(s)(1) 3(t)(1) (3) Section 19(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2028(a)(2)(A)(ii) thrifty food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4) low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(n)(2)(D) (4) Section 27(a)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2036(a)(2) (A) in subparagraph (C) by striking 2023 2020 (B) in subparagraph (D)— (i) by striking through 2023 through 2020 (ii) in clause (vi) by adding and (iii) in clause(vii) by adding and (iv) by striking clauses (viii) and (ix); (C) in subparagraph (E)— (i) by striking 2024 and each subsequent fiscal year 2020 (ii) by striking 2023 2019 (iii) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (F) for fiscal year 2021, the dollar amount of commodities specified in subparagraph (B) shall be adjusted by the difference between the cost of the thrifty food plan and the cost of low-cost food plan; and (G) for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2023, the dollar amount of commodities specified in subparagraph (B) shall be adjusted by the percentage by which the low-cost food plan has been adjusted under 3(n)(2)(D) between June 30, 2021, and June 30 of the immediately preceding fiscal year; . (5) Section 408(a)(12)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 608(a)(12)(B)(i) (r) 3. Deductions from income (a) Standard medical expense deduction Section 5(e)(5) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(5) (1) in the paragraph heading, by striking Excess medical Medical (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking an excess medical a standard medical deduction or a medical expense deduction of actual costs for the allowable medical expenses incurred by the elderly or disabled member, exclusive of special diets. (3) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking excess (4) by adding at the end the following: (D) Standard medical expense deduction amount (i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), the standard medical expense deduction shall be— (I) for fiscal year 2021, $140; and (II) for each subsequent fiscal year, equal to the applicable amount for the immediately preceding fiscal year as adjusted to reflect changes for the 12-month period ending the preceding June 30 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Medical Care published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor. (ii) Exception For any fiscal year, a State agency may establish a greater standard medical expense deduction than described in clause (i) if the greater deduction satisfies cost neutrality standards established by the Secretary for that fiscal year. . (b) Elimination of cap of excess shelter expenses (1) In general Section 5(e)(6) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6) (A) by striking subparagraph (B); and (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively. (2) Conforming amendment Section 2605(f)(2)(A) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 ( 42 U.S.C. 8624(f)(2)(A) 5(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I) of that Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I) 5(e)(6)(B)(iv)(I) of that Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(B)(iv)(I) 4. Elimination of time limit (a) In general Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015 (1) by striking subsection (o); and (2) by redesignating subsections (p) through (s) as subsections (o) through (r), respectively. (b) Additional allocations for States that ensure availability of work opportunities Section 16(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2025(h) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (C)(iv)(I)— (i) by striking (F)(viii) (E)(viii) (ii) by striking (F)(vii)(I) (E)(vii)(I) (iii) in item (bb)(BB), by striking (F)(vii)(II) (E)(vii)(II) (iv) in item (cc), by striking (F)(vii) (E)(vii) (B) by striking subparagraph (E); and (C) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (E); (2) in paragraphs (3) and (4), by striking (1)(F) (1)(E) (3) in paragraph (5)(C)— (A) in clause (ii), by adding and (B) in clause (iii), by striking ; and (C) by striking clause (iv). (c) Conforming amendments (1) Section 5(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2014(a) (r) (q) (2) Section 6(d)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(4) (A) in subparagraph (B)(ii)(I)(bb)(DD), by striking or subsection (o) (B) in subparagraph (N), by striking or subsection (o) (3) Section 7(i)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2016(i)(1) section 6(o)(2) of this Act or (4) Section 16(h)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2025(h) (A) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking that— that is determined and adjusted by the Secretary. (B) in clause (ii)(III)(ee)(AA) of subparagraph (E) (as redesignated by subsection (b)(1)(C)), by striking , individuals subject to the requirements under section 6(o), (5) Section 51(d)(8)(A)(ii) (A) in subclause (I), by striking , or (B) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking family— receiving family receiving (C) by striking subclause (II). (6) Section 103(a)(2) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3113 (A) by striking subparagraph (D); and (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (K) as subparagraphs (D) through (J), respectively. (7) Section 121(b)(2)(B) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3151 (A) by striking clause (iv); and (B) by redesignating clauses (v) through (vii) as clauses (iv) through (vi), respectively. 5. Participation of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands in supplemental nutrition assistance program (a) Definition of State Subsection (s) of section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2012 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, (b) Eligible households Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2014 (1) in subsection (c), in the undesignated matter at the end, by striking States or Guam States, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (2) by adding at the end the following: (o) Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, including the requirements under this section, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall each establish their own standards of eligibility for participation by households in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. . (c) Effective date (1) In general The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall be effective with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as applicable, on the date described in paragraph (2) if the Secretary of Agriculture submits to Congress a certification under subsection (f)(2)(B) of section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2028 (2) Date described The date referred to in paragraph (1) is, with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the date established by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, respectively, in the applicable plan of operation submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture under subsection (f)(1)(A) of section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2028 6. Transition of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to supplemental nutrition assistance program Section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2028 (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking and (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (C) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (f) Transition of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to supplemental nutrition assistance program (1) Request for participation A governmental entity may submit to the Secretary a request to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, which shall include a plan of operation described in section 11(d), which shall include the date on which the governmental entity intends to begin participation in the program. (2) Certification by Secretary (A) In general The Secretary shall certify a governmental entity that submits a request under paragraph (1) as qualified to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program if the Secretary— (i) approves the plan of operation submitted with the request, in accordance with this subsection; and (ii) approves the applications described in paragraph (4) in accordance with that paragraph. (B) Submission of certification to Congress The Secretary shall submit each certification under subparagraph (A) to Congress. (3) Determination of plan of operation (A) Approval The Secretary shall approve a plan of operation submitted with a request under paragraph (1) if the plan satisfies the requirements under this Act for a plan of operation. (B) Disapproval If the Secretary does not approve a plan of operation submitted with a request under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the governmental entity a statement that describes each requirement under this Act that is not satisfied by the plan. (4) Approval of retail food stores (A) Solicitation of applications If the Secretary approves a plan of operation under paragraph (3)(A) for a governmental entity, the Secretary shall accept applications from retail food stores located in that governmental entity to be authorized under section 9 to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. (B) Determination The Secretary shall authorize a retail food store applying to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program under subparagraph (A) if the application satisfies the requirements under this Act for authorization of a retail food store. (5) Puerto Rico In the case of a request under paragraph (1) by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, notwithstanding subsection (g), the Secretary shall allow the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to continue to carry out under the supplemental nutrition assistance program the Family Market Program established pursuant to this section. (6) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2021, to remain available until expended. (g) Termination of effectiveness (1) In general Subsections (a) through (e) shall cease to be effective with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as applicable, on the date described in paragraph (2) if the Secretary submits to Congress a certification under subsection (f)(2)(B) for that governmental entity. (2) Date described The date referred to in paragraph (1) is, with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the date established by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, respectively, in the applicable plan of operation submitted to the Secretary under subsection (f)(1)(A). .

Summary: Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021 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 January 1, 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.