Anti-hunger Empowerment Act of 2015
Latest action (19 Nov 2015): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 4121, the Anti-hunger Empowerment Act of 2015, would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to change how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is administered. It would authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cover 75% of a state's costs for new efforts to expand office hours, reduce wait times, allow online applications, upgrade technology, and give applicants document checklists. It would also bar states from requiring fingerprinting for SNAP eligibility, limit in-person office visits to specific circumstances, and require USDA to submit an annual report to Congress comparing states' progress on SNAP access, processing times, error rates, and participation rates.
The bill would also create a "Beyond the Soup Kitchen Pilot Program," authorizing USDA to award up to 30 grants to community-based nonprofit anti-hunger organizations, which would distribute subgrants (10 to 200 per grantee) to local groups. Funds could support activities such as benefits outreach, job training, nutrition education, food gathering and distribution, and coordination among charitable feeding groups, with limits on food purchases and certain volunteer-related expenses. Separate technical assistance grants would help support these pilot communities.
The bill primarily affects SNAP applicants and recipients, state agencies administering SNAP, and community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger organizations.
The bill was introduced by Rep. José Serrano on November 19, 2015, and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. It did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 114th Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Anti-hunger Empowerment Act of 2015
This bill reduces administrative requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program), authorizes funding to increase access to SNAP offices, and authorizes grants for community-based nonprofits to expand anti-hunger activities.
The bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to repeal existing provisions regarding administrative costs and authorize the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to pay 75% of the administrative costs for state agencies to increase the operating hours of SNAP offices, reduce wait times, accept online applications, upgrade technology, and provide a checklist of required documents.
If a state agency believes that information provided by a SNAP applicant is incorrect or incomplete, the agency must notify the applicant in writing and include instructions for providing the required information. Unless the information is not provided in response to the request or it cannot be verified, a state must not require an applicant to appear in person. State agencies must not require fingerprints for any member of a household to participate in SNAP or receive benefits.
USDA must report annually to Congress on the comparative progress of states in improving access to SNAP.
Beyond the Soup Kitchen Grants Program Act of 2015
The Beyond the Soup Kitchen Pilot Program is established to provide grants to community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups for programs to reduce hunger, increase the use of nutrition assistance and anti-poverty programs, bolster food security, assist individuals and families to develop assets, promote economic independence, improve nutrition, and reduce obesity.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 4121 do?
- H.R. 4121, the Anti-hunger Empowerment Act of 2015, would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to change how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is administered. It would authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cover 75% of a state's costs for new efforts to expand office hours, reduce wait times, allow online applications, upgrade technology, and give applicants document checklists. It would also bar states from requiring fingerprinting for SNAP eligibility, limit in-person office visits to specific circumstances, and require USDA to submit an annual report to Congress comparing states' progress on SNAP access, processing times, error rates, and participation rates. The bill would also create a "Beyond the Soup Kitchen Pilot Program," authorizing USDA to award up to 30 grants to community-based nonprofit anti-hunger organizations, which would distribute subgrants (10 to 200 per grantee) to local groups. Funds could support activities such as benefits outreach, job training, nutrition education, food gathering and distribution, and coordination among charitable feeding groups, with limits on food purchases and certain volunteer-related expenses. Separate technical assistance grants would help support these pilot communities. The bill primarily affects SNAP applicants and recipients, state agencies administering SNAP, and community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger organizations. The bill was introduced by Rep. José Serrano on November 19, 2015, and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. It did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 114th Congress.
- Has H.R. 4121 become law?
- Not yet. As of 19 Nov 2015, H.R. 4121 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 4121?
- H.R. 4121 was sponsored by Rep. José Serrano [D-NY15, 2013-2020] (Democrat-NY), with 6 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 4121?
- Introduced (19 Nov 2015).
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