Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021
Latest action (26 Apr 2021): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 2837, the Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021, would repeal the federal provision in the 1996 welfare reform law that allows states to permanently ban people with felony drug convictions from receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. It would also void any state laws, policies, or regulations that condition SNAP or TANF eligibility on a drug-related conviction. Separately, the bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 so that incarcerated individuals scheduled for release within 30 days are counted as part of a "household" for purposes of determining SNAP eligibility and benefits.
The bill primarily affects people with prior drug convictions who seek TANF or SNAP assistance, as well as individuals nearing release from incarceration who may need to establish SNAP eligibility before leaving custody. States that currently impose drug-conviction-related restrictions on these programs would also be affected, since their relevant laws or policies would no longer have legal effect.
The bill was introduced on April 26, 2021, by Rep. Steve Cohen with 21 cosponsors and referred to the House Committees on Agriculture and Ways and Means. It did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 117th Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021
This bill repeals a lifetime ban that prohibits individuals convicted of certain offenses related to the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or assistance under programs funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants. Any state law that imposes conditions on eligibility for SNAP benefits or TANF assistance based on an individual's conviction of such an offense shall have no force or effect.
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.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 2837 do?
- H.R. 2837, the Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021, would repeal the federal provision in the 1996 welfare reform law that allows states to permanently ban people with felony drug convictions from receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. It would also void any state laws, policies, or regulations that condition SNAP or TANF eligibility on a drug-related conviction. Separately, the bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 so that incarcerated individuals scheduled for release within 30 days are counted as part of a "household" for purposes of determining SNAP eligibility and benefits. The bill primarily affects people with prior drug convictions who seek TANF or SNAP assistance, as well as individuals nearing release from incarceration who may need to establish SNAP eligibility before leaving custody. States that currently impose drug-conviction-related restrictions on these programs would also be affected, since their relevant laws or policies would no longer have legal effect. The bill was introduced on April 26, 2021, by Rep. Steve Cohen with 21 cosponsors and referred to the House Committees on Agriculture and Ways and Means. It did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 117th Congress.
- Has H.R. 2837 become law?
- Not yet. As of 26 Apr 2021, H.R. 2837 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 2837?
- H.R. 2837 was sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN9] (Democrat-TN), with 41 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 2837?
- Introduced (26 Apr 2021).
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