Title: RESET for America’s Future Act
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
Revitalize and Expand SNAP Education and Training for America's Future Act or the RESET for America's Future Act
This bill increases federal reimbursement for certain state employment and training programs under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program).
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must issue certain guidelines that permit a state to submit for full and expedited federal reimbursement of any costs incurred through SNAP employment and training programs that meet certain criteria (e.g., programs with proven positive outcomes), with no match requirement.
USDA must temporarily reimburse each state 100% of costs incurred in connection with transportation costs and other expenses related to participation in such programs through the end of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency or two years, whichever is later. It must also reimburse each state 100% of costs incurred to build, modernize, or improve state and local data systems related to SNAP employment and training programs.
Further, USDA must commission a thorough national assessment of its SNAP employment and training programs to develop a strategy for continuous improvement to the programs.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 487 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 487

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand the operation of 
  the State employment and training programs under such Act, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 25, 2021

  Ms. Spanberger (for herself and Mr. Upton) introduced the following 
        bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand the operation of 
  the State employment and training programs under such Act, and for 
                            other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Revitalize and Expand SNAP Education 
and Training for America's Future Act'' or the ``RESET for America's 
Future Act''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Streamlined Employment and Training Program.--The Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 6(d)(4) by inserting after subparagraph (K) 
        the following:
                    ``(K-1)(i) Not later than 90 days after the 
                effective date of this subparagraph, the Secretary 
                shall issue the following streamlined guidelines for 
                the implementation of an employment and training 
                program under this subparagraph:
                            ``(I) Guidelines that permit the State 
                        agency to submit for full and expedited Federal 
                        reimbursement of any costs incurred under such 
                        program, with no match requirement, that meets 
                        1 or more of the following:
                                    ``(aa) Activities that include an 
                                evaluation to measure employment and 
                                earnings outcomes for participants in 
                                such program, with a methodology that 
                                could, in the event that the evaluation 
                                finds positive program impacts, 
                                subsequently classify the program as 
                                having a high or moderate causal 
                                evidence rating that shows a 
                                demonstrated capacity to improve 
                                employment and earnings outcomes for 
                                program participants, as defined by the 
                                Secretary of Labor under section 3026 
                                of Public Law 115-12.
                                    ``(bb) Activities under such 
                                program that have already been 
                                evaluated, and found to positively 
                                affect employment and earnings outcomes 
                                for program participants, with a 
                                methodology that has a high or moderate 
                                causal evidence rating, as defined by 
                                the Secretary of Labor under section 
                                3206 of Public Law 115-123.
                                    ``(cc) Activities under such 
                                program that use at least 20 percent of 
                                the funding allocated through such 
                                program through a performance or 
                                outcomes contract to pay for measurable 
                                improvements in outcomes related to 
                                improved employment earnings, 
                                credential attainment, or measurable 
                                attainment of new vocational skills for 
                                eligible participants served, including 
                                any reporting measures related to these 
                                outcomes which State agencies must 
                                track and report annually under 
                                regulations issued by the Secretary 
                                under this Act, or any benchmarks 
                                clearly shown by credible research to 
                                be highly correlated with these key 
                                outcomes if these outcomes are measured 
                                using administrative data validated by 
                                a third-party evaluator if--
                                            ``(AA) any participants 
                                        eligible to participate in the 
                                        supplemental nutrition 
                                        assistance program are eligible 
                                        for such program;
                                            ``(BB) the State agency 
                                        demonstrates that the 
                                        population served by the 
                                        program under this subparagraph 
                                        is similar to the population 
                                        that participates in the 
                                        supplemental nutrition 
                                        assistance program in the local 
                                        area served with respect to 
                                        both demographics and barriers 
                                        to employment; and
                                            ``(CC) funds provided under 
                                        this subparagraph and designed 
                                        for the purposes of making 
                                        outcome-based payments may be 
                                        held by the State agency or 
                                        local agency for the purpose of 
                                        making payments required under 
                                        such contract based on a 
                                        measurable outcome, for a 
                                        period not to exceed 5 years 
                                        notwithstanding any other 
                                        provision of the law.
                                    ``(dd) Activities under such 
                                programs that use an additional amount, 
                                not to exceed 20 percent of the total 
                                amount, covered by activities under 
                                such program that meet 1 of the 3 
                                criteria specified in items (aa) 
                                through (cc) for purposes that may be 
                                necessary to administer or evaluate 
                                projects or programs permitted under 
                                any of such criteria, or to pay for 
                                technical assistance to better 
                                administer or evaluate such projects or 
                                programs, except that the maximum 
                                allowable percentage permitted in this 
                                item may be increased from 20 to 30 
                                percent for providers that coordinate 
                                and cost-share with other programs 
                                funded under the Workforce Innovation 
                                and Opportunity Act of 2014.
                    ``(ii) Program participants who are eligible for 
                any services, or who enroll in any program or project 
                under this paragraph, shall remain eligible, 
                notwithstanding any other provision in this Act, for 
                not less than 6 months.
                    ``(iii) Any State agency that receives funds under 
                this subparagraph shall--
                            ``(I) as part of its current reporting 
                        requirements, include in its report to the 
                        Secretary details on how such funds were 
                        allocated under this subparagraph, and make 
                        these findings available to the public not 
                        later than 1 year after receiving funds under 
                        this subparagraph;
                            ``(II) release, as part of its reporting 
                        requirements to the Secretary, a final publicly 
                        available report to the Secretary with--
                                    ``(aa) detailed findings on 
                                programs funded under this subparagraph 
                                not later than 1 year of the end of 
                                such programs; and
                                    ``(bb) any associated evaluations 
                                funded under this paragraph (including 
                                measurable employment, wage, or other 
                                relevant outcomes for programs and 
                                services funded under this 
                                subparagraph; and
                            ``(III) the findings of any associated 
                        evaluations.
                    ``(iv) If the Secretary does not issue guidelines 
                by the deadline specified in clause (i), State agencies 
                may proactively apply for full reimbursement under this 
                subparagraph if they clearly demonstrate to the 
                Secretary and to the public how the activities for 
                which they request full reimbursement under this 
                subparagraph meet the criteria and requirements 
                specified in this subparagraph.
                    ``(v) Nothing in this subparagraph shall be 
                construed--
                            ``(I) to create any new reporting 
                        requirement, compliance requirement, or other 
                        requirement for any State agency or local 
                        agency that implements that do not wish to 
                        receive funds under this subparagraph and the 
                        heightened reimbursement levels made available 
                        under this subparagraph; or
                            ``(II) to create a new reporting, 
                        compliance, or other requirement for any 
                        program, project, or service funded through the 
                        program under this subparagraph but not funded 
                        under this paragraph.''; and
            (2) in section 16(h)(1) by adding at end the following:
``In addition to funds allocated under the preceding sentence, the 
Secretary shall reserve for allocation to State agencies, to remain 
available for 24 months, from funds made available for each fiscal year 
under section 18(a)(1), $100,000,000 for such fiscal year for 
reimbursements required under section 6(d)(4)(K-1), except that at 
least $30,000,000 of such funds shall remain available for 60 months to 
cover any longer-term outcome-based payments authorized under subitem 
(CC) of section 6(d)(4)(K-1)(1)(i)(I)(cc).''.
    (b)  Reimbursement for Additional Supportive Services Supplementing 
Evidence-Based, Evidence-Building or Outcomes-Based Activities.--
Section 16(h)(3) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2025(h)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``to 50 per centum'' and inserting the 
        following:
        ``to--
                    ``(A) 50 percent'', and
            (2) by striking ``paragraph (1)(F), except'' and inserting 
        the following:
                ``paragraph (1)(F); or
                    ``(B) 100 percent of the total amount of payments 
                made or costs incurred by the State agency in 
                connection with transportation costs and other expenses 
                reasonably necessary and directly related to 
                participation in--
                            ``(i) an employment and training program 
                        described in section 6(d)(4)(K-1); and
                            ``(ii) an employment and training program 
                        described in section (6)(d)(4)(K) if such 
                        program provides the activities described in 
                        subitem (aa), (bb), or (cc) of section 
                        6(d)(4)(K-1);
                for the period beginning on the effective date of this 
                subparagraph and ending on the date the public health 
                emergency declaration by the Secretary of Health and 
                Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health 
                Service Act based on an outbreak of coronavirus disease 
                2019 (COVID-19) is lifted or 2 years after the 
                effective date of this subparagraph, whichever is 
                later.''.
    (c)  Use of Federal Funding Streams Count as Matching Funds To 
Increase Alignment.--Section 16(h)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``(2)'', and
            (2) by adding at end the following:
            ``(ii)(I) Effective during the period beginning on the 
        effective date of this clause and ending on September 30, 2023, 
        a State agency incurs costs in carrying out such program during 
        a fiscal year that exceed the amount allocated to the State 
        agency under paragraph (1) for such fiscal year, then In 
        carrying out such program such State may contribute additional 
        funds obtained from other sources, including Federal, State, or 
        private funds, on the condition that the use of the 
        contributions is permissible under Federal law.
            ``(II) The State agency shall submit a report to the 
        Secretary containing information to identify each source of 
        Federal funds contributed under subclause (II). such report 
        shall include details on how the provider will partner with 
        other local and State entities funded by the Federal program in 
        question that is being counted toward the match requirement to 
        do the following--
                    ``(aa) improve measurable outcomes for program 
                participants;
                    ``(bb) streamline service delivery, co-locate 
                services, align services across programs, streamline 
                service delivery for program participants, or make it 
                easier for program participants eligible for multiple 
                programs to participate in cost-sharing across those 
                programs for services in which they are enrolled; and
                    ``(cc) otherwise partner with other entities in the 
                area to improve program performance management.''.
    (d) Full Reimbursement of State-Level Data Costs To Facilitate 
Improved Employment and Training Program Enrollment, Interprogram 
Alignment, Performance Management, and Other Purposes.--Section 
16(h)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2035(h)(4)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``Funds'' and inserting ``(A) Except as 
        provided in subparagraph (B), funds'', and
            (2) by adding at end the following:
    ``(B) The Secretary shall also reimburse each State agency in an 
amount equal to 100 percent of the total amount of payments made or 
costs incurred by the State agency to build, modernize or improve State 
and local data systems or data processes related to the supplemental 
nutrition assistance program and employment, and to enrollment and 
eligibility for training programs carried out under this Act, for any 
of the following purposes if the personal identifiable information of 
program participants is not compromised or made less secure in the 
process and if the security of such systems is in no way compromised 
and if such costs are counted toward total allowable indirect maximum 
costs related to administering the program that a State may claim under 
guidance issued by the Secretary:
            ``(i) To make it easier to track program and participant 
        outcomes.
            ``(ii) To make it easier to increase system 
        interoperability with other Federal, State, and local data 
        systems such that program participants can be more easily 
        matched and served across related workforce and training 
        programs, for the purposes of better aligning and coordinating 
        service delivery across programs.
            ``(iii) To make establishing employment and training 
        participant eligibility measurably easier, faster, or more 
        user-friendly for local providers.
            ``(iv) A combination of any of the purposes described in 
        clauses (i) through (iii).''.

SEC. 3. REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall commission a detailed and 
thorough national assessment of the employment and training programs 
carried out under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, consulting with 
experts, program providers, State and local stakeholders, and 
individuals with relevant lived experience across the country to 
determine what is working well, what is not working well, and to 
develop a strategy for continuous improvement, and shall report to the 
Congress on the Secretary's findings not later than September 30, 2022, 
with a follow up assessment based on continuous feedback and learning 
not later than September 30, 2024. Such report shall include findings 
and recommendations on the following topics:
            (1) Strategies to more rigorously measure the impact of 
        such program.
            (2) Strategies to improve the measurable impact of such 
        programs on key outcomes, including employment, earnings and 
        economic self-sufficiency outcomes for participants, and 
        reporting measures related to these outcomes that States are 
        required to track and report annually under regulations issued 
        by the Secretary under such Act.
            (3) Strategies to increase alignment and coordination 
        between SNAP E&T and other Federal workforce development 
        programs, including in particular those funded and authorized 
        under the Workforce Innovation and Training Act (WIOA) of 2014, 
        the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st 
        Century Act (Perkins V) of 2018, and other relevant Federal 
        programs.
            (4) An assessment specifically of the amendments made by 
        this Act, in particular the effect of allowing States and 
        providers to use other Federal funding to satisfy the matching 
        requirement applicable to such program (including how 
        widespread this allowable use of other Federal funds has been 
        used, whether and how that use has worked to incentivize local 
        providers to coordinate programming effectively with other 
        workforce and training providers funded through other Federal 
        programs and with other providers of relevant supportive 
        services, and the likely impact over time of extending that 
        provision of law).
            (5) An assessment in particular of other provisions of the 
        such amendments that will terminate in 2023, and how such other 
        amendments were implemented by States, local governments, and 
        providers.
            (6) An assessment of how many providers of such programs 
        are opting into the heightened reimbursement authorized under 
        other provisions of the such amendments.
                                 <all>