I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1507
To amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to modify certain eligibility
disqualifications, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 30, 1997
Mr. WALSH (for himself, Mrs. ROUKEMA, Mr. HALL of Ohio, Mrs. CLAYTON,
Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. WOLF, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. QUINN, Mr. LEACH, Ms.
NORTON, Mrs. THURMAN, and Ms. WATERS) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition
to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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 con-
cerned
A BILL
To amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to modify certain
eligibility disqualifications, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hunger Has a Cure
Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. STANDARD DEDUCTION.
Section 5(e)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2014(e)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘Such standard deductions shall be adjusted on Oc-
tober 1, 2001, and each October 1 thereafter to the
nearest lower dollar increment to reflect changes in
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for
items other than food for the 12-month period end-
ing on June 30 preceding the date of the adjust-
ment.’’.
SEC. 3. EXCESS SHELTER DEDUCTION.
Section 5(e)(7)(B) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(7)) is amended—
(1) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘1998’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘1997’’,
(2) in clause (iii) by striking ‘‘1999 and 2000’’
and inserting ‘‘1998 and 1999’’, and
(3) in clause (iv) by striking ‘‘year 2001 and
each subsequent fiscal year’’ and inserting ‘‘years
2000 and 2001’’.
SEC. 4. VEHICLE ALLOWANCE.
Section 5(g) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2014(g)) is amended—
(1) by moving the left margin of paragraph (2),
and of each designated subdivision of such para-
graph, 2 ems to the left; and
(2) in paragraph (2)(B)(iv)—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ the first place it ap-
pears; and
(B) by inserting before the semicolon the
following:
‘‘, and $5,000 beginning on October 1, 1997,
and as adjusted on each October 1 thereafter,
to reflect changes in the new car component of
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Con-
sumers published by the Bureau of Labor Sta-
tistics for the 12-month period ending on June
30 preceding the date of the adjustment, and
rounded to the nearest $50’’.
SEC. 5. WORK REQUIREMENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)(C) by striking ‘‘, other
than a job search program or job search training
program’’, and
(2) in paragraph (2)—
(A) by striking ‘‘preceding 36-month pe-
riod’’ and all that follows through ‘‘3 months’’,
and inserting ‘‘preceding 12-month period, the
individual received food stamp benefits for not
less than 6 months’’, and
(B) in subparagraph (D) by inserting be-
fore the period at the end the following: ‘‘or is
not offered an opportunity to participate in a
program that allows an individual to satisfy the
requirements of subparagraph (B) or (C)’’.
(b) ENHANCED EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PRO-
GRAM.—Section 16(h)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 2025(h)(1)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘through
(C)’’ and inserting ‘‘through (D)’’,
(2) 
by 
redesignating 
subparagraphs 
(B)
through (D) as subparagraphs (C) through (E), re-
spectively,
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(B) To carry out employment and train-
ing programs, and in addition to amounts re-
served under subparagraph (A), the Secretary
shall reserve $100,000,000 for each of the fiscal
years 1998 through 2002 for allocation to State
agencies from funds made available under sec-
tion 18(a)(1) for such fiscal years.’’, and
(4) in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated—
(i) by inserting ‘‘(i)’’ after ‘‘ALLOCA-
TION—’’;
(ii) by striking ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’ and
inserting ‘‘subparagraphs (A) and (B)’’, and
(iii) by inserting before the period at the
end the following:
‘‘who are ineligible under section 6(o)(2) to re-
ceive food stamp benefits.
‘‘(ii) To be eligible to receive funds allo-
cated under subparagraph (B) for a fiscal year,
the State agency shall agree to expend for such
fiscal year, to provide to individuals who com-
pose such population opportunities to partici-
pate in programs that allow such individuals to
satisfy the requirements of subparagraph (B) or
(C) of section 6(o)(2)—
‘‘(I) the funds the State agency re-
ceives from funds allocated under subpara-
graph (B); and
‘‘(II) of the funds the State agency
receives from funds allocated under sub-
paragraph (A) for such fiscal year, an
amount that is not less than the amount
the State agency received under subpara-
graph (A)(i) and expended for the benefit
of similar individuals, as determined by the
Secretary.’’.
SEC. 6. LEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
(a) PROTECTING ELDERLY AND CHILD LEGAL IMMI-
GRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES FOR
AT LEAST 5 YEARS, AND LEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO BE-
COME DISABLED AFTER ENTRY.—
(1) ELIGIBILITY
FOR
FOOD
STAMP
BENE-
FITS.—Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Respon-
sibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘(E) LEGAL IMMIGRANTS BECOMING DIS-
ABLED
AFTER
ENTERING
THE
UNITED
STATES.—In the case of the program specified
in paragraph (3)(B), paragraph (1) shall not
apply to a qualified alien who becomes disabled
after the date of entry of such immigrant into
the United States.
‘‘(F) LEGAL
IMMIGRANT
CHILDREN
AND
ELDERLY
INDIVIDUALS.—In the case of the
program specified in paragraph (3)(B), para-
graph (1) shall not apply to a qualified alien
who is under 18 years of age or over 75 years
of age and who has been a legal permanent
resident of the United States for not less than
5 years.’’.
(2) ELIGIBILITY LIMITATION.—Section 403(b)
of the Personal Responsibility and Work Oppor-
tunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.
1613(b)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(3) LEGAL
IMMIGRANTS
WHO
BECOME
DIS-
ABLED AFTER ENTERING THE UNITED STATES AND
SEEK FOOD ASSISTANCE.—In the case of the pro-
gram specified in section 402(a)(3)(B), a qualified
alien who becomes disabled after the date of entry
of such alien into the United States.’’.
(b) PROTECTING REFUGEES AND ASYLEES DURING
THEIR FIRST 7 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES.—Section
402(a)(2)(A) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Op-
portunity 
Reconciliation 
Act 
of 
1996 
(8 
U.S.C.
1612(a)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘(or 7 years in
the case of the program specified in paragraph (3)(B))’’
after ‘‘5 years’’.
(c) REPEALING DEEMING REQUIREMENTS AND PRO-
TECTING LEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO BECOME DISABLED
AFTER ENTRY.—
(1) GENERIC
RULES.—Section 421(a) of the
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Rec-
onciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1631(a)) is
amended by inserting ‘‘(except in the case of the
program specified in section 402(a)(3)(B))’’ after
‘‘of law’’.
(2) FOOD STAMP ACT OF 1977.—
(A) Section 5(i) of the Food Stamp Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 2014(i)) is repealed.
(B) The amendment made by subpara-
graph (A) shall not apply with respect to any
alien who entered the United States before Au-
gust 22, 1996.
SEC. 7. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that $45,000,000
should be appropriated for fiscal year 1998 under section
204(a)(1) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983
(7 U.S.C. 7508(a)(1) to assist in the provision of short-
term emergency food assistance to low-income individuals
in need and to continue the efficient distribution of com-
modities under such Act.
SEC. 8. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING FULL FUND-
ING FOR SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRI-
TION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND
CHILDREN.
It is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the Congress should include in any supple-
mental appropriations bill for fiscal year 1997 a pro-
vision appropriating not less than $76,000,000 for
the special supplemental nutrition program for
women, infants, and children (WIC) under section
17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
1786) in order to meet the expected year-end case-
load of approximately 7,400,000 participants; and
(2) the Congress should appropriate not less
$4,008,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 for the special
supplemental nutrition program for women, infants,
and children (WIC) under section 17 of such Act in
order to allow the expected year-end caseload in such
program to increase to 7,500,000 participants.
SEC. 9. ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR SUMMER FOOD SERVICE
PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 13(b)(1)(B)(i) of the Na-
tional School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(b)(1)(B)(i)) is
amended by striking ‘‘$1.97’’ and inserting ‘‘$2.23’’.
SEC. 10. OUTREACH AND START-UP FUNDING FOR SCHOOL
BREAKFAST AND SUMMER FEEDING PRO-
GRAMS.
Section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966
(42 U.S.C. 1773) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘(f) EXPANSION OF PROGRAM.—(1)(A) As a national
nutrition and health policy, it is the purpose and intent
of the Congress that the school breakfast program be
made available in all schools where it is needed to provide
adequate nutrition for children in attendance. The Sec-
retary is hereby directed, in cooperation with State edu-
cational agencies, to carry out a program of information
in furtherance of this policy.
‘‘(B) In cooperation with State educational agencies,
the Secretary shall promote the school breakfast program
by—
‘‘(i) marketing the program in a manner that
expands participation in the program by schools and
students; and
‘‘(ii) improving public education and outreach
efforts in language appropriate materials that en-
hance the public image of the program.
‘‘(C) As used in this paragraph, the term ‘language
appropriate materials’ means materials using a language
other than the English language in a case in which the
language is dominant for a large percentage of individuals
participating in the program.
‘‘(2)(A) Each State educational agency—
‘‘(i) shall provide information to school boards
and public officials concerning the benefits and
availability of the school breakfast program; and
‘‘(ii) shall select each year, for additional infor-
mational efforts concerning the program, schools in
the State—
‘‘(I) in which a substantial portion of
school enrollment consists of children from low-
income families; and
‘‘(II) that do not participate in the school
breakfast program.
‘‘(B) Not later than October 1, 2000, the Secretary
shall report to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen-
ate concerning the efforts of the Secretary and the States
to increase the participation of schools in the program.
‘‘(g) STARTUP AND EXPANSION COSTS.—(1) Out of
any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated,
the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide to the Sec-
retary $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 and each subse-
quent fiscal year to make payments under this subsection.
The Secretary shall be entitled to receive the funds and
shall accept the funds. The Secretary shall use the funds
to make payments on a competitive basis and in the fol-
lowing order of priority (subject to other provisions of this
subsection), to—
‘‘(A) State educational agencies in a substantial
number of States for distribution to eligible schools
to assist the schools with nonrecurring expenses in-
curred in—
‘‘(i) initiating a school breakfast program
under this section; or
‘‘(ii) expanding a school breakfast pro-
gram; and
‘‘(B) a substantial number of States for dis-
tribution to service institutions to assist the institu-
tions with nonrecurring expenses incurred in—
‘‘(i) initiating a summer food service pro-
gram for children; or
‘‘(ii) expanding a summer food service pro-
gram for children.
‘‘(2) Payments received under this subsection shall
be in addition in payments to which State agencies are
entitled under subsection (b) of this section and section
13 of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761).
‘‘(3) To be eligible to receive a payment under this
subsection, a State educational agency shall submit to the
Secretary a plan to initiate or expand school breakfast
programs conducted in the State, including a description
of the manner in which the agency will provide technical
assistance and funding to schools in the State to initiate
or expand the programs.
‘‘(4) In making payments under this subsection for
any fiscal year to initiate or expand school breakfast pro-
grams, the Secretary shall provide a preference to State
educational agencies that—
‘‘(A) have in effect a State law that requires
the expansion of the programs during the year;
‘‘(B) have significant public or private resources
that have been assembled to carry out the expansion
of the programs during the year;
‘‘(C) do not have a school breakfast program
available to a large number of low-income children
in the State; or
‘‘(D) serve an unmet need among low-income
children, as determined by the Secretary.
‘‘(5) In making payments under this subsection for
any fiscal year to initiate or expand summer food service
programs for children, the Secretary shall provide a pref-
erence to States—
‘‘(A)(i) in which the numbers of children par-
ticipating in the summer food service program for
children represent the lowest percentages of the
number of children receiving free or reduced price
meals under the school lunch program established
under the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1751 et seq.); or
‘‘(ii) that do not have a summer food service
program for children available to a large number of
low-income children in the State; and
‘‘(B) that submit to the Secretary a plan to ex-
pand the summer food service programs for children
conducted in the State, including a description of—
‘‘(i) the manner in which the State will
provide technical assistance and funding to
service institutions in the State to expand the
programs; and
‘‘(ii) significant public or private resources
that have been assembled to carry out the ex-
pansion of the programs during the year.
‘‘(6) The Secretary shall act in a timely manner to
recover and reallocate to other States any amounts pro-
vided to a State educational agency or State under this
subsection that are not used by the agency or State within
a reasonable period (as determined by the Secretary).
‘‘(7) The Secretary shall allow States to apply on an
annual basis for assistance under this subsection.
‘‘(8) Each State agency and State, in allocating funds
within the State, shall give preference for assistance under
this subsection to eligible schools and service institutions
that demonstrate the greatest need for a school breakfast
program or a summer food service program for children,
respectively.
‘‘(9) Expenditures for funds from State and local
sources for the maintenance of the school breakfast pro-
gram and the summer food service program for children
shall not be diminished as a result of payments received
under this subsection.
‘‘(10) As used in this section:
‘‘(A) The term ‘eligible school’ means a
school—
‘‘(i) attended by children a significant per-
centage of whom are members of low-income
families;
‘‘(ii)(I) as used with respect to a school
breakfast program, that agrees to operate the
school breakfast program established or ex-
panded with the assistance provided under this
subsection for a period of not less than 3 years;
and
‘‘(II) as used with respect to a summer
food service program for children, that agrees
to operate the summer food service program for
children established or expanded with the as-
sistance provided under this subsection for a
period of not less than 3 years.
‘‘(B) The term ‘service institution’ means an in-
stitution or organization described in paragraph
(1)(B) or (7) of section 13(a) of the National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(1)(B) or (7)).
‘‘(C) The term ‘summer food service program
for children’ means a program authorized by section
13 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1761).’’.
SEC. 11. RESTORATION OF ‘‘FOURTH MEAL’’ UNDER CHILD
AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM.
Section 17(f)(2)(B) of the National School Lunch Act
(42 U.S.C. 1766(f)(2)(B)) is amended by striking ‘‘two
meals and one supplement’’ and inserting ‘‘two meals and
two supplements or three meals and one supplement’’.
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