Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary introduced in house (Apr 26, 2021)
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.
What just happenedJul 1, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
Who’s behind it
- Introduced in HouseApr 26, 2021
- Jul 1, 2021Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture - Apr 26, 2021Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.
Work and Welfare Subcommittee - Apr 26, 2021IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Ways and Means Committee - Apr 26, 2021IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Agriculture Committee - Apr 26, 2021IntroReferralIntro-H
Introduced in House
- Apr 26, 2021IntroReferral1000
Introduced in House