Food Assistance for Kids and Families During COVID-19 Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3563
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2020-03-22
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Child health

Elementary and secondary education

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Food assistance and relief

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Nutrition and diet

Poverty and welfare assistance

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-03-22
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Food Assistance for Kids and Families During COVID-19 Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill modifies food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).</p> <p>The bill modifies the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to require USDA to (1) notify retailers of the existing opportunities through which they can deliver groceries to SNAP participants; and (2) authorize public-private partnerships between itself, authorized SNAP retailers, and community-based organizations to support grocery delivery during the national emergency regarding COVID-19.</p> <p>The bill provides funding for USDA to support grocery delivery for SNAP participants who are seniors, immunocompromised individuals, or other individuals who are unable to travel safely to a grocery store. </p> <p>Additionally, the bill (1) extends the certification period under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for infants to two years, instead of the current one year; and (2) authorizes states to increase the certification time under WIC for breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women to two years postpartum.</p> <p>The bill also allows any federal agency charged with the administration of a federal assistance program to modify or waive administrative conditions during an emergency.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3563 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 22, 2020 Mr. Casey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To modify nutrition programs to address the Coronavirus Disease 2019, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Food Assistance for Kids and Families During COVID-19 Act of 2020 . 2. Supplemental nutrition assistance program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Program The term program means the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.). (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. (b) Program modifications (1) In general In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall— (A) notify authorized program retailers of existing opportunities through which retailers can deliver groceries to program participants, including by— (i) allowing an EBT card (as defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2012 )) to be swiped on delivery of groceries to the home (with a mobile device); and (ii) preparing groceries for pick-up; (B) authorize public-private partnerships between the Department of Agriculture, authorized program retailers, and community-based organizations to support grocery delivery, including through the use of private funds; and (C) in the case of an authorized program retailer or a grocer that is unable to cover the cost of grocery delivery for program participants, use funds made available under paragraph (2) to support grocery delivery for program participants who are seniors, im­mu­no­com­pro­mised individuals, or other individuals who are unable to travel safely to a grocery store. (2) Funding for delivery (A) In general There is appropriated to the Secretary, out of funds of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $500,000,000 to cover the cost of grocery delivery under paragraph (1)(C). (B) Emergency requirement The amount made available under subparagraph (A) is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 ( 2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(A)(i) ). (C) Administration A State agency shall— (i) pay for the cost of grocery delivery under paragraph (1)(C) for an authorized program retailer or grocer described in that subparagraph; and (ii) be reimbursed by the Secretary using funds appropriated under subparagraph (A). (D) Authorization of appropriations In addition to the amount appropriated under subparagraph (A), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to cover the cost of grocery delivery under paragraph (1)(C). (3) Termination of authority (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the authority of the Secretary to carry out paragraphs (1) and (2) shall terminate on the date on which the national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is terminated. (B) Reimbursement The Secretary may reimburse State agencies under paragraph (2)(C)(ii) after the date described in subparagraph (A). (C) Return of funds The Secretary shall return to the Treasury any funds appropriated under paragraph (2)(A) that have not been used or obligated under paragraph (2)(C)(ii) by the date described in subparagraph (A). (c) Use of certain funds Section 28(c)(3)(A) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2036a(c)(3)(A) ) is amended— (1) in clause (ii), by striking and at the end; (2) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (iv) during a national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), to distribute at a noncongregate location, including at a school or through delivery, free or reduced price meals under the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school breakfast program established under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ). . 3. Special supplemental nutrition program for women and children (a) Certification of infants (1) Definition of infant Section 17(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(b) ) is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following: (5) Infant The term infant means— (A) a person under 1 year of age; and (B) for purposes of subsection (d), a person under 2 years of age. . (2) Certification Section 17(d)(3)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(A) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (iv) Infants (I) In general A State may elect to certify an infant for a period of not more than 2 years. (II) Assessments In certifying an infant under subclause (I), a State shall ensure that the infant receives required health and nutrition assessments. . (b) Extension of postpartum period (1) Breastfeeding women (A) Definition of breastfeeding woman Section 17(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(b) ) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) Breastfeeding woman The term breastfeeding woman means— (A) a woman who is not more than 1 year postpartum and is breastfeeding the infant of the woman; and (B) for purposes of subsection (d), a woman who is not more than 2 years postpartum and is breastfeeding the infant of the woman. . (B) Certification Section 17(d)(3)(A)(ii) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(A)(ii) ) is amended by striking 1 year and all that follows through earlier and inserting not more than 2 years postpartum . (2) Postpartum women (A) Definition of postpartum woman Section 17(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(b) ) is amended by striking paragraph (10) and inserting the following: (10) Postpartum woman The term post­par­tum woman means— (A) a woman up to 6 months after termination of pregnancy; and (B) for purposes of subsection (d), a woman up to 2 years after termination of pregnancy. . (B) Certification Section 17(d)(3)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(A) ) (as amended by subsection (a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (v) Postpartum women A State may elect to certify a postpartum woman for a period of up to 2 years after the termination of pregnancy of the postpartum woman. . 4. Waiver of administrative conditions Section 301 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5141 ) is amended by inserting or emergency after major disaster each place the term appears.