I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3037 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 2, 2023 
Ms. ADAMS (for herself, Mrs. HAYES, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, 
Ms. LEE of Pennsylvania, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. EVANS, Mr. 
AUCHINCLOSS, Ms. OMAR, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Ms. WILSON of 
Florida, Ms. SA´NCHEZ, Mr. CONNOLLY, Ms. JACOBS, Mr. GARCI´A of Illi-
nois, Mr. TAKANO, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. MORELLE, Ms. TOKUDA, Ms. 
SEWELL, Mr. KILMER, Mr. TONKO, Mr. SWALWELL, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. 
MCGOVERN, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. PANETTA, Ms. DELBENE, 
Mr. DESAULNIER, Ms. TITUS, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. MOSKOWITZ, Ms. 
MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mrs. MCBATH, Ms. NORTON, 
Ms. STRICKLAND, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. POCAN, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. MOULTON, 
Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. KIM of New Jersey, Mr. MFUME, Mr. RUPPERS-
BERGER, Ms. CHU, Mr. SARBANES, Ms. CROCKETT, Mr. MULLIN, Mr. 
CA´RDENAS, Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. NEGUSE, Ms. WATERS, Ms. 
STEVENS, Mr. CARSON, Mr. GOMEZ, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. SALI-
NAS, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Mr. KEATING, Mr. BOWMAN, Ms. PIN-
GREE, Ms. MENG, and Mr. ESPAILLAT) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
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. 
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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 ‘‘Closing the Meal Gap 
Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. CALCULATION OF PROGRAM BENEFITS USING LOW- 
COST FOOD PLAN. 
(a) DEFINITION OF LOW-COST FOOD PLAN.—Sec-
tion 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2012) is amended— 
(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 fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(n) LOW-COST FOOD PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘low-cost food 
plan’ means the diet, determined in accordance with 
the calculations of the Secretary, required to feed a 
4-person family that consists of— 
‘‘(A) a man and a woman who are each be-
tween 19 and 50 years of age; 
‘‘(B) a child who is between 6 and 8 years 
of age; and 
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‘‘(C) a child who is between 9 and 11 
years of age. 
‘‘(2) REEVALUATION.—By December 31, 2029, 
and at 5-year intervals thereafter, the Secretary 
shall reevaluate 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 house-
holds 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) tak-
ing 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; and 
‘‘(C) on October 1, 2023, and each Octo-
ber 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 
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nearest lower-dollar increment for each house-
hold size.’’. 
(b) VALUE OF ALLOTMENT.—Section 8(a) of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2017(a)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘thrifty food plan’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘low-cost food plan’’; and 
(2) in the proviso, by striking ‘‘8 percent’’ and 
inserting ‘‘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)) is amended— 
(1) in subclause (II)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘thrifty food plan is ad-
justed under section 3(u)(4)’’ and inserting 
‘‘low-cost food plan is adjusted under section 
3(n)(3)(D)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘2013’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’; 
(2) by redesignating subclause (II) as subclause 
(III); and 
(3) by striking subclause (I) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(I) for fiscal year 2023, at an 
amount not greater than $50; 
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‘‘(II) for fiscal year 2024, the 
amount specified in subclause (I) ad-
justed by the difference between the 
thrifty food plan (as defined in section 
3 (as in effect on the day before the 
date of enactment of the Closing the 
Meal Gap Act of 2023)) 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) is amended, in the first 
sentence, by striking ‘‘3(o)(4)’’ and inserting 
‘‘3(p)(4)’’. 
(2) Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking 
‘‘3(s)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘3(t)(1)’’; 
(B) in subsection (d)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘3(s)(1)’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘3(t)(1)’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘3(s)(2)’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘3(t)(2)’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘Act (25 U.S.C. 
450)’’ and inserting ‘‘and Education As-
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sistance Act (25 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)’’; 
and 
(C) in subsection (e)(17), by striking 
‘‘3(s)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘3(t)(1)’’. 
(3) Section 19(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the Food and Nu-
trition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028(a)(2)(A)(ii)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘thrifty food plan has been ad-
justed under section 3(u)(4)’’ and inserting ‘‘low- 
cost food plan has been adjusted under section 
3(n)(3)(D)’’. 
(4) Section 27(a)(2) of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036(a)(2)) is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ‘‘(as 
in effect on the day before the date of enact-
ment of the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 
2023)’’ after ‘‘section 3(u)(4)’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (D)(ix), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as 
subparagraph (F); 
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (D) 
the following: 
‘‘(E) for fiscal year 2023, the sum ob-
tained by adding— 
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‘‘(i) the dollar amount of commodities 
specified in subparagraph (B) adjusted by 
the percentage by which the low-cost food 
plan has been adjusted under section 
3(u)(4) between June 30, 2021, and June 
30 of the immediately preceding fiscal 
year; and 
‘‘(ii) $35,000,000; and’’; and 
(E) in subparagraph (F) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘subparagraph (D)(ix) ad-
justed by the percentage by which the thrifty 
food plan has been adjusted under section 
3(u)(4)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (F) ad-
justed by the percentage by which the low-cost 
food plan has been adjusted under section 
3(n)(3)(D)’’. 
(5) Section 408(a)(12)(B)(i) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(12)(B)(i)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘(r)’’ each place it appears. 
SEC. 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)) is amended— 
(1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ‘‘EX-
CESS MEDICAL’’ and inserting ‘‘MEDICAL’’; 
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(2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘an excess 
medical’’ and all that follows through the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘a standard medical deduction 
or a medical expense deduction of actual costs for 
the allowable medical expenses incurred by the elder-
ly or disabled member, exclusive of special diets.’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ‘‘ex-
cess’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) STANDARD
MEDICAL
EXPENSE
DE-
DUCTION AMOUNT.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in clause (ii), the standard medical 
expense deduction shall be— 
‘‘(I) for fiscal year 2023, $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 pre-
ceding June 30 in the Consumer Price 
Index for All Urban Consumers: Med-
ical Care published by the Bureau of 
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Labor Statistics of the Department of 
Labor. 
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION.—For any fiscal 
year, a State agency may establish a great-
er standard medical expense deduction 
than described in clause (i) if the greater 
deduction satisfies cost neutrality stand-
ards established by the Secretary for that 
fiscal year.’’. 
(b) ELIMINATION OF CAP OF EXCESS SHELTER EX-
PENSES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 5(e)(6) of the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking subparagraph (B); and 
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) 
and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respec-
tively. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
2605(f)(2)(A) of the Low-Income Home Energy As-
sistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624(f)(2)(A)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘5(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I) of that Act 
(7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I))’’ and inserting 
‘‘5(e)(6)(B)(iv)(I) 
of 
that 
Act 
(7 
U.S.C. 
2014(e)(6)(B)(iv)(I))’’. 
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under subsection (f)(2)(C) 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 the date established by the Com-
monwealth of Puerto Rico in the applicable plan of 
operation submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture 
under subsection (f)(1) of section 19 of the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028). 
(d) TRANSITION
OF PUERTO RICO
TO SUPPLE-
MENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—Section 19 
of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) TRANSITION
OF PUERTO RICO
TO SUPPLE-
MENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) REQUEST FOR PARTICIPATION.—The Com-
monwealth of Puerto Rico may submit to the Sec-
retary 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 Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico intends to begin participation in the 
program. 
‘‘(2) CERTIFICATION BY SECRETARY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—On submission of a 
request by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 
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under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall certify 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as qualified 
to participate in the supplemental nutrition as-
sistance program if the Secretary— 
‘‘(i) approves the plan of operation 
submitted with the request, in accordance 
with this subsection; and 
‘‘(ii) approves the applications de-
scribed in paragraph (4) in accordance 
with that paragraph. 
‘‘(B) CERTIFICATION DECISION.—The Sec-
retary shall certify or not certify the request of 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico under para-
graph (1) not later than 90 days after the date 
on which the Secretary receives the request. 
‘‘(C) SUBMISSION
OF
CERTIFICATION
TO 
CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall submit a cer-
tification under subparagraph (A) to Congress. 
‘‘(3) DETERMINATION
OF
PLAN
OF
OPER-
ATION.— 
‘‘(A) APPROVAL.—The Secretary shall ap-
prove a plan of operation submitted with a re-
quest under paragraph (1) if the plan satisfies 
the requirements under this Act. 
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‘‘(B) DISAPPROVAL.—If the Secretary does 
not approve a plan of operation submitted with 
a request under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall provide a statement that describes each 
requirement under this Act that is not satisfied 
by the plan. 
‘‘(4) APPROVAL OF RETAIL FOOD STORES.—If 
the Secretary approves a plan of operation under 
paragraph (3)(A) for the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, the Secretary shall accept applications from re-
tail food stores located in the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico to be authorized under section 9 to par-
ticipate in the supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram. 
‘‘(5) FAMILY
MARKET
PROGRAM.—Notwith-
standing subsection (g), the Secretary shall allow the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to continue to carry 
out under the supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram the Family Market Program established pur-
suant to this section. 
‘‘(6) TEMPORARY FUNDING.—If the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico has a request under para-
graph (1) pending before the Secretary (including a 
plan of operation pending under paragraph (3)), the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall receive block 
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grants under this section, in amounts determined by 
the Secretary, until the date on which the Secretary 
certifies the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico under 
paragraph (2)(B). 
‘‘(7) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
subsection for fiscal year 2023, to remain available 
until expended. 
‘‘(g) TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPLEMENTA-
TION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico may request from the Secretary a 1- 
time grant to pay for the cost of the technology in-
frastructure necessary to implement the supple-
mental nutrition assistance program, including the 
cost of information technology, information tech-
nology personnel, and training relating to program 
implementation. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—In making a request under 
paragraph (1), the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 
shall submit to the Secretary an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Secretary may require, including— 
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‘‘(A) a description of the costs to be paid 
for by the grant; and 
‘‘(B) a plan for implementing the tech-
nology infrastructure described in paragraph 
(1)— 
‘‘(i) within 1 year of receiving the 
grant; and 
‘‘(ii) that is reasonably cost efficient, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) DETERMINATION.— 
‘‘(A) TIME
LIMIT.—The Secretary shall 
approve or deny an application submitted under 
paragraph (2) not later than 90 days after the 
date on which the application is submitted. 
‘‘(B) DENIAL.—If the Secretary denies an 
application submitted under paragraph (2), the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may amend the 
plan described in subparagraph (B) of that 
paragraph, in coordination with the Secretary, 
to resubmit to the Secretary for approval. 
‘‘(4) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There is appropriated 
to the Secretary, out of funds in the Treasury 
not otherwise appropriated, $112,500,000 to 
carry out this subsection, to remain available 
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until 3 years after the date of enactment of this 
subsection. 
‘‘(B) REVERSION OF FUNDS.—Any funds 
appropriated to the Secretary under subpara-
graph (A) that remain available by the date de-
scribed in that subparagraph shall revert to the 
Treasury. 
‘‘(h) TERMINATION OF EFFECTIVENESS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsections (a) through (e) 
shall cease to be effective with respect to the Com-
monwealth of Puerto Rico on the date described in 
paragraph (2) if the Secretary submits to Congress 
a certification under subsection (f)(2)(C) for the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 
‘‘(2) DATE DESCRIBED.—The date referred to 
in paragraph (1) is the date established by the Com-
monwealth of Puerto Rico in the applicable plan of 
operation submitted to the Secretary under sub-
section (f)(1).’’. 
Æ 
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