LEGISLATION/H.R. 1657

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to improve the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

113-HR-1657113th CongressIntroduced Apr 18, 2013Agriculture and Food
Market Probability
No market
Status
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Other Chamber
Signed
Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, and Nutrition.

Sponsor

Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3](R-IN-3)
8 cosponsors

Summary

Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to make eligible for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly the food stamp program) households in which each member receives cash assistance under the temporary assistance to needy families program (TANF), cash assistance under the supplemental security income program (SSI), or aid to the aged, blind, or disabled program (AABD). (Current law bases categorical SNAP eligibility upon state benefits received rather than such assistance.)

Requires an eligible household that previously received SNAP benefits and applies for program reenrollment to complete a new application and verify that household income and assets are in program compliance.

Limits the employment requirement waiver to areas with an unemployment rate over 10%.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to develop a centralized database to facilitate USDA-state agency cooperation in order to ensure that individuals do not enroll for benefits in more than one state.

Requires states that are sanctioned for three consecutive years of improper payments to pay the entire liability amount, with no alternative payment option available.

Eliminates: (1) the exclusion of low-income home energy assistance from SNAP household income determinations, (2) funding of employment and training programs, and (3) bonuses for states with low SNAP allocation error rates.

Provides funding for state nutrition and obesity prevention grant programs.

Subjects

Employment and training programsEnergy assistance for the poor and agedFood assistance and reliefGovernment information and archivesHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careNutrition and dietPoverty and welfare assistanceState and local government operations

Actions (4)

Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, and Nutrition.
May 3, 2013House committee actions
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Apr 18, 2013House floor actions
Introduced in House
Apr 18, 2013Library of Congress
Introduced in House
Apr 18, 2013Library of Congress