1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021 ”.
Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021
A BILL
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require that supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits be calculated using the value of the low-cost food plan, and for other purposes.
2. Calculation of program benefits using low-cost food plan
Definition of low-Cost food plan— Section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012) is amended—
by striking subsection (u);
by redesignating subsections (n) through (t) as subsections (o) through (u), respectively; and
by inserting after subsection (m) the following:
“(n) Low-Cost food plan
“(1) In general—The term low-cost food plan means the diet, determined in accordance with the calculations of the Secretary, required to feed a 4-person family that consists of—
“(A) a man and a woman who are each between 19 and 50 years of age;
“(B) a child who is between 6 and 8 years of age; and
“(C) a child who is between 9 and 11 years of age.
“(2) Reevaluation—By December 31, 2027, and at 5-year intervals thereafter, the Secretary shall reevaluate and publish the market baskets of the low-cost food plan, based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance.
“(3) Cost—For purposes of paragraph (1), the cost of the diet described in that paragraph shall be the basis for uniform allotments for all households regardless of the actual composition of the household, except that the Secretary shall—
“(A) make household-size adjustments (based on the unrounded cost of that diet) taking into account economies of scale;
“(B) make cost adjustments in the low-cost food plan for the State of Hawaii and the urban and rural parts of the State of Alaska to reflect the cost of food in Hawaii and urban and rural Alaska, respectively;
“(C) make cost adjustments in the separate low-cost food plans for Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands, to reflect the cost of food in those territories, but not to exceed the cost of food in the 50 States and the District of Columbia; and
“(D) on October 1, 2021, and each October 1 thereafter, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect the cost of the diet in the immediately preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower-dollar increment for each household size.”
Value of allotment— Section 8(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2017(a)) is amended—
by striking “thrifty food plan” each place it appears and inserting “low-cost food plan”; and
in the proviso, by striking “8 percent” and inserting “10 percent”.
Quality control system— Section 16(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(1)(A)(ii)) is amended—
in subclause (II)—
by striking “thrifty food plan is adjusted under section 3(u)(4)” and inserting “low-cost food plan is adjusted under section 3(n)(3)(D)”; and
by striking “2013” and inserting “2022”;
by redesignating subclause (II) as subclause (III); and
by striking subclause (I) and inserting the following:
“(I) for fiscal year 2021, at an amount not greater than $50;
“(II) for fiscal year 2022, the amount specified in subclause (I) adjusted by the difference between the thrifty food plan (as defined in section 3 (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021)) and the low-cost food plan; and”
Conforming amendments—
Section 10 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2019) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking “3(o)(4)” and inserting “3(p)(4)”.
Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended—
in subsection (a)(2), by striking “3(s)(1)” and inserting “3(t)(1)”;
in subsection (d)—
by striking “3(s)(1)” each place it appears and inserting “3(t)(1)”;
by striking “3(s)(2)” each place it appears and inserting “3(t)(2)”; and
by striking “Act (25 U.S.C. 450)” and inserting “and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)”; and
in subsection (e)(17), by striking “3(s)(1)” and inserting “3(t)(1)”.
Section 19(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028(a)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking “thrifty food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4)” and inserting “low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(n)(3)(D)”.
Section 27(a)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036(a)(2)) is amended—
in subparagraph (C)—
by striking “through 2023” and inserting “through 2020”; and
by inserting “(as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021)” after “section 3(u)(4)”;
in subparagraph (D)—
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking “through 2023” and inserting “through 2020”;
in clause (v), by adding “and” after the semicolon; and
by striking clauses (vii) through (ix);
in subparagraph (E), by striking “subparagraph (D)(ix) adjusted by the percentage by which the thrifty food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4)” and inserting “subparagraph (F) adjusted by the percentage by which the low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(n)(3)(D)”;
by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (G); and
by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
“(E) for fiscal year 2021, the sum obtained by adding—
“(i) the dollar amount of commodities specified in subparagraph (B) adjusted by the difference between the thrifty food plan (as defined in section 3 (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021)) and the low-cost food plan; and
“(ii) $35,000,000;
“(F) for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023, the sum obtained by adding—
“(i) the dollar amount of commodities specified in subparagraph (B) adjusted by the percentage by which the low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4) between June 30, 2021, and June 30 of the immediately preceding fiscal year; and
“(ii) $35,000,000; and”
Section 408(a)(12)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(12)(B)(i)) is amended by striking “(r)” each place it appears.
3. Deductions from income
Standard medical expense deduction— Section 5(e)(5) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(5)) is amended—
in the paragraph heading, by striking “Excess medical” and inserting “Medical”;
in subparagraph (A), by striking “an excess medical” and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting “a standard medical deduction or a medical expense deduction of actual costs for the allowable medical expenses incurred by the elderly or disabled member, exclusive of special diets.”;
in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking “excess”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(D) Standard medical expense deduction amount
“(i) In general—Except as provided in clause (ii), the standard medical expense deduction shall be—
“(I) for fiscal year 2021, $140; and
“(II) for each subsequent fiscal year, equal to the applicable amount for the immediately preceding fiscal year as adjusted to reflect changes for the 12-month period ending the preceding June 30 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Medical Care published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.
“(ii) Exception—For any fiscal year, a State agency may establish a greater standard medical expense deduction than described in clause (i) if the greater deduction satisfies cost neutrality standards established by the Secretary for that fiscal year.”
Elimination of cap of excess shelter expenses—
by striking subparagraph (B); and
by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively.
Conforming amendment— Section 2605(f)(2)(A) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624(f)(2)(A)) is amended by striking “5(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I))” and inserting “5(e)(6)(B)(iv)(I) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(B)(iv)(I))”.
4. Elimination of time limit
by striking subsection (o); and
by redesignating subsections (p) through (s) as subsections (o) through (r), respectively.
Additional allocations for States that ensure availability of work opportunities— Section 16(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
in subparagraph (C)(iv)(I)—
by striking “(F)(viii)” each place it appears and inserting “(E)(viii)”;
by striking “(F)(vii)(I)” each place it appears and inserting “(E)(vii)(I)”;
in item (bb)(BB), by striking “(F)(vii)(II)” and inserting “(E)(vii)(II)”; and
in item (cc), by striking “(F)(vii)” and inserting “(E)(vii)”;
by striking subparagraph (E); and
by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (E);
in paragraphs (3) and (4), by striking “(1)(F)” each place it appears and inserting “(1)(E)”; and
in paragraph (5)(C)—
in clause (ii), by adding “and” at the end;
in clause (iii), by striking “; and” and inserting a period; and
by striking clause (iv).
Conforming amendments—
Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is amended—
in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by striking “(r)” and inserting “(q)”; and
in subsection (g)(3), in the first sentence, by striking “16(h)(1)(F)” and inserting “16(h)(1)(E)”.
Section 6(d)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(4)) is amended—
in subparagraph (B)(ii)(I)(bb)(DD), by striking “or subsection (o)”; and
in subparagraph (N), by striking “or subsection (o)” each place it appears.
Section 7(i)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(i)(1)) is amended by striking “section 6(o)(2) of this Act or”.
Section 16(h)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)) is amended—
in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking “that—” and all that follows through the period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting “that is determined and adjusted by the Secretary.”; and
in clause (ii)(III)(ee)(AA) of subparagraph (E) (as redesignated by subsection (b)(1)(C)), by striking “, individuals subject to the requirements under section 6(o),”.
Section 51(d)(8)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
in subclause (I), by striking “, or” at the end and inserting a period;
in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking “family—” and all that follows through “receiving” in subclause (I) and inserting “family receiving”; and
by striking subclause (II).
Section 103(a)(2) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3113) is amended—
by striking subparagraph (D); and
by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (K) as subparagraphs (D) through (J), respectively.
Section 121(b)(2)(B) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3151) is amended—
by striking clause (iv); and
by redesignating clauses (v) through (vii) as clauses (iv) through (vi), respectively.
5. Participation of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands in supplemental nutrition assistance program
Definition of State— Subsection (s) of section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012) (as redesignated by section 2(a)(2)) is amended by inserting “the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,” after “Guam,”.
in subsection (c), in the undesignated matter at the end, by striking “States or Guam” and inserting “States, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(o) Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands—Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, including the requirements under this section, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall each establish their own standards of eligibility for participation by households in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.”
Effective date—
In general— The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall be effective with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as applicable, on the date described in paragraph (2) if the Secretary of Agriculture submits to Congress a certification under subsection (f)(2)(B) of section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028).
Date described— The date referred to in paragraph (1) is, with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the date established by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, respectively, in the applicable plan of operation submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture under subsection (f)(1)(A) of section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028).
6. Transition of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to supplemental nutrition assistance program
Section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028) is amended—
in subsection (a)(1)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “and” at the end;
in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(C) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”
by adding at the end the following:
“(f) Transition of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to supplemental nutrition assistance program
“(1) Request for participation—A governmental entity may submit to the Secretary a request to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, which shall include a plan of operation described in section 11(d), which shall include the date on which the governmental entity intends to begin participation in the program.
“(2) Certification by Secretary
“(A) In general—The Secretary shall certify a governmental entity that submits a request under paragraph (1) as qualified to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program if the Secretary—
“(i) approves the plan of operation submitted with the request, in accordance with this subsection; and
“(ii) approves the applications described in paragraph (4) in accordance with that paragraph.
“(B) Submission of certification to Congress—The Secretary shall submit each certification under subparagraph (A) to Congress.
“(3) Determination of plan of operation
“(A) Approval—The Secretary shall approve a plan of operation submitted with a request under paragraph (1) if the plan satisfies the requirements under this Act for a plan of operation.
“(B) Disapproval—If the Secretary does not approve a plan of operation submitted with a request under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the governmental entity a statement that describes each requirement under this Act that is not satisfied by the plan.
“(4) Approval of retail food stores
“(A) Solicitation of applications—If the Secretary approves a plan of operation under paragraph (3)(A) for a governmental entity, the Secretary shall accept applications from retail food stores located in that governmental entity to be authorized under section 9 to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
“(B) Determination—The Secretary shall authorize a retail food store applying to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program under subparagraph (A) if the application satisfies the requirements under this Act for authorization of a retail food store.
“(5) Puerto Rico—In the case of a request under paragraph (1) by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, notwithstanding subsection (g), the Secretary shall allow the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to continue to carry out under the supplemental nutrition assistance program the Family Market Program established pursuant to this section.
“(6) Authorization of appropriations—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2021, to remain available until expended.
“(g) Termination of effectiveness
“(1) In general—Subsections (a) through (e) shall cease to be effective with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as applicable, on the date described in paragraph (2) if the Secretary submits to Congress a certification under subsection (f)(2)(B) for that governmental entity.
“(2) Date described—The date referred to in paragraph (1) is, with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the date established by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, respectively, in the applicable plan of operation submitted to the Secretary under subsection (f)(1)(A).”