Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2020
Latest action (14 Feb 2020): Introduced
What this bill does
Generate a neutral, plain-English explanation of what this bill does, who it affects and what happens next — grounded in the official text.
Official summary
Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2020
This bill repeals a lifetime ban that prohibits individuals convicted of certain offenses related to the possession, use, or distribution of controlled substances from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or assistance under programs funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grants. In addition, individuals who are incarcerated and scheduled to be released within 30 days shall qualify as individual households for purposes of SNAP eligibility. Under current law, unless specifically excepted, individuals residing in institutions do not constitute a household.
Existing state laws that removed or modified the federal ban at the state level shall have no force or effect.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 5915 do?
- Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2020 This bill repeals a lifetime ban that prohibits individuals convicted of certain offenses related to the possession, use, or distribution of controlled substances from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or assistance under programs funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grants. In addition, individuals who are incarcerated and scheduled to be released within 30 days shall qualify as individual households for purposes of SNAP eligibility. Under current law, unless specifically excepted, individuals residing in institutions do not constitute a household. Existing state laws that removed or modified the federal ban at the state level shall have no force or effect.
- Has H.R. 5915 become law?
- Not yet. As of 14 Feb 2020, H.R. 5915 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 5915?
- H.R. 5915 was sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN9] (Democrat-TN), with 13 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 5915?
- Introduced (14 Feb 2020).
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