Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021
- Last Action
- 7/1/2021
Actions
- 2021-07-01Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
- 2021-04-26Referred to the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.
- 2021-04-26Referred 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.
- 2021-04-26Referred 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.
- 2021-04-26Introduced in House
- 2021-04-26Introduced in House
CRS Summary
As of 2021-04-26 (00)
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.
Cosponsors (20)
- Gwen Moore (D-WI)
- Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)
- Jahana Hayes (D-CT)
- EARL BLUMENAUER (D-OR)
- Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
- Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)
- Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)
- JAMES COOPER (D-TN)
- DANNY DAVIS (D-IL)
- Theodore Deutch (D-FL)
- Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)
- Steven Horsford (D-NV)
- MARCY KAPTUR (D-OH)
- BARBARA LEE (D-CA)
- ELEANOR NORTON (D-DC)
- BOBBY RUSH (D-IL)
- Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)
- David Trone (D-MD)
- Mary Scanlon (D-PA)
- JANICE SCHAKOWSKY (D-IL)
Subjects
- Drug trafficking and controlled substances
- Food assistance and relief
- Poverty and welfare assistance
- State and local government operations
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.