Student Food Security Act of 2021
Latest action (11 May 2021): Introduced
What this bill does
Here's a summary of S. 1569, the Student Food Security Act of 2021:
The bill would amend federal law to make it easier for college students to qualify for and access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It would allow students living at a college or university to count as their own separate household for SNAP purposes, and it would rewrite eligibility rules so that students automatically qualify if they are eligible for federal work-study, have a $0 expected family contribution or qualify for a maximum Pell Grant, or are independent students in an otherwise-eligible household. The bill also directs USDA to issue guidance helping states reach eligible students, and creates a 10-year demonstration program allowing up to 10 colleges to let students use SNAP benefits for prepared campus dining hall food and exempts them from mandatory meal-plan purchases.
The bill primarily affects college and university students with financial need, state SNAP agencies, and institutions of higher education. It also directs several federal agencies—Education, Agriculture, HUD, HHS, and Treasury—to share data to identify students eligible for SNAP and other assistance programs (such as Medicaid, WIC, housing aid, and tax credits) and to notify students of programs they may qualify for.
The bill was introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren on May 11, 2021, and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. It has not received a committee vote or further action and would need to pass both chambers and be signed into law to take effect.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Student Food Security Act of 2021
This bill expands the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and establishes programs to address food insecurity among college students.
Specifically, the bill permanently modifies the eligibility requirements to allow additional college students to receive SNAP benefits, and it establishes a demonstration program to allow college students to use SNAP benefits on college campuses instead of meal plans. The bill also advances implementation of certain data-sharing agreements and notifications to help students who apply for federal financial aid to also apply for and receive other federal means-tested benefits (e.g., Section 8 tenant-based housing assistance, Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income).
In addition, the bill (1) requires questions about food and housing insecurity to be incorporated into the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, and (2) establishes a grant program to support research and address incidences of food and housing insecurity among college students.
Common questions
- What does S. 1569 do?
- Here's a summary of S. 1569, the Student Food Security Act of 2021: The bill would amend federal law to make it easier for college students to qualify for and access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It would allow students living at a college or university to count as their own separate household for SNAP purposes, and it would rewrite eligibility rules so that students automatically qualify if they are eligible for federal work-study, have a $0 expected family contribution or qualify for a maximum Pell Grant, or are independent students in an otherwise-eligible household. The bill also directs USDA to issue guidance helping states reach eligible students, and creates a 10-year demonstration program allowing up to 10 colleges to let students use SNAP benefits for prepared campus dining hall food and exempts them from mandatory meal-plan purchases. The bill primarily affects college and university students with financial need, state SNAP agencies, and institutions of higher education. It also directs several federal agencies—Education, Agriculture, HUD, HHS, and Treasury—to share data to identify students eligible for SNAP and other assistance programs (such as Medicaid, WIC, housing aid, and tax credits) and to notify students of programs they may qualify for. The bill was introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren on May 11, 2021, and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. It has not received a committee vote or further action and would need to pass both chambers and be signed into law to take effect.
- Has S. 1569 become law?
- Not yet. As of 11 May 2021, S. 1569 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 1569?
- S. 1569 was sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth Warren [D-MA] (Democrat-MA), with 8 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 1569?
- Introduced (11 May 2021).
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