Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2019
Latest action (26 Feb 2019): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 1368, the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2019, would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to change how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are calculated. It would replace the current "thrifty food plan" with a new "low-cost food plan," a higher-cost model diet, as the basis for setting benefit amounts, and would raise the minimum benefit calculation from 8 percent to 10 percent of the plan's cost. The bill also raises the cap on the standard utility allowance, removes the cap on the excess shelter expense deduction, creates a standard medical expense deduction with annual cost-of-living adjustments, and eliminates certain restrictions limiting SNAP eligibility for college students. It sets new SNAP administrative funding levels for fiscal year 2020 and beyond, tied to future adjustments in the low-cost food plan.
These changes would primarily affect SNAP applicants and recipients, including low-income households, elderly and disabled individuals claiming medical expense deductions, and students seeking eligibility, as well as state agencies that administer the program. The changes are generally intended to increase benefit amounts and expand deduction allowances.
The bill was introduced in the House on February 26, 2019, by Rep. Alma Adams with numerous cosponsors, and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. It did not receive a vote and did not become law in the 116th Congress. Any further action would require reintroduction in a subsequent Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2019
This bill revises the requirements for calculating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) benefits.
Specifically, the bill
• increases the minimum SNAP benefit and requires that benefits be calculated using a low-cost food plan (i.e., the diet required to feed a family of four);
• directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to determine the requirements for the low-cost food plan;
• requires USDA to make adjustments to the plan to account for household size, changes in the cost of the diet, and the costs of food in specified areas;
• revises the amounts authorized for nutrition assistance block grants for Puerto Rico and American Samoa and requires that the amounts be modified based on adjustments to the low-cost food plan;
• modifies the requirements for calculating household income to determine SNAP eligibility by authorizing a standard medical expense deduction for households containing an elderly or disabled member and eliminating the cap on the deduction for excess shelter expenses; and
Common questions
- What does H.R. 1368 do?
- H.R. 1368, the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2019, would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to change how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are calculated. It would replace the current "thrifty food plan" with a new "low-cost food plan," a higher-cost model diet, as the basis for setting benefit amounts, and would raise the minimum benefit calculation from 8 percent to 10 percent of the plan's cost. The bill also raises the cap on the standard utility allowance, removes the cap on the excess shelter expense deduction, creates a standard medical expense deduction with annual cost-of-living adjustments, and eliminates certain restrictions limiting SNAP eligibility for college students. It sets new SNAP administrative funding levels for fiscal year 2020 and beyond, tied to future adjustments in the low-cost food plan. These changes would primarily affect SNAP applicants and recipients, including low-income households, elderly and disabled individuals claiming medical expense deductions, and students seeking eligibility, as well as state agencies that administer the program. The changes are generally intended to increase benefit amounts and expand deduction allowances. The bill was introduced in the House on February 26, 2019, by Rep. Alma Adams with numerous cosponsors, and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. It did not receive a vote and did not become law in the 116th Congress. Any further action would require reintroduction in a subsequent Congress.
- Has H.R. 1368 become law?
- Not yet. As of 26 Feb 2019, H.R. 1368 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 1368?
- H.R. 1368 was sponsored by Rep. Alma Adams [D-NC12] (Democrat-NC), with 136 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 1368?
- Introduced (26 Feb 2019).
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