Emergency SNAP Flexibilities Extension Act
This bill extends existing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) flexibilities for states during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. Under current law, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has temporarily waived certain requirements under SNAP due to COVID-19.
Specifically, the bill authorizes states to extend through June 30, 2021, SNAP certification periods and adjust periodic reporting and interview requirements for some or all participating households without USDA approval. Additionally, states may allow household reporting requirements to satisfy the recertification requirements for some or all participating households with recertification periods set to expire on or before December 31, 2021.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7794 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7794
To extend existing supplemental nutrition assistance program
flexibilities for States during the COVID-19 pandemic.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 27, 2020
Ms. Fudge (for herself, Mr. McGovern, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Panetta, Mr.
Lawson of Florida, Ms. Adams, and Ms. Schrier) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To extend existing supplemental nutrition assistance program
flexibilities for States during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Emergency SNAP Flexibilities
Extension Act''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF EXISTING SNAP FLEXIBILITIES FOR COVID-19.
(a) State Options.--
(1) A State agency (as defined in section 3(s) of the Food
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(s))) shall have the
option--
(A) to extend certification periods under section
3(f) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2012(f)) for not more than 6 months and adjust periodic
report requirements under section 6(c)(1)(D)(i) of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2015(c)(1)(D)(i)) for some or all participating
households with certification periods set to expire or
periodic reports due on or before June 30, 2021,
consistent with the extensions and adjustments provided
in the Food and Nutrition Service's April 22, 2020,
blanket approval for extending certification and
adjusting periodic reports, unless otherwise provided
in this paragraph;
(B) to allow household reporting requirements under
section 273.12(a)(5)(iii) of title 7 of the Code of
Federal Regulations to satisfy the recertification
requirements under section 273.14 of title 7 of the
Code of Federal Regulations for some or all
participating households with recertification periods
set to expire on or before December 31, 2021; and
(C) to adjust the interview requirements under
sections 273.2 and 273.14(b) of title 7 of the Code of
Federal Regulations for some or all household
applications or recertifications through June 30, 2021,
consistent with the adjustments provided in the Food
and Nutrition Service's March 26, 2020, blanket
approval for adjusting interview requirements, unless
otherwise provided in this paragraph.
(2) Not later than 5 days after exercising an option under
paragraph (1), a State agency shall notify the Secretary of
Agriculture in writing of the option exercised, the categories
of households affected by the option, and the duration of such
option.
(b) Adjustment.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall allow a State
agency to suspend the requirements under sections 275.11(b)(1) and (2),
275.12, and 275.13 of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations from
June 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, consistent with the waivers
provided in the Food and Nutrition Service's April 30, 2020, blanket
approval for waiver of quality control reviews, unless otherwise
provided in this subsection.
(c) Report.--Section 2302 of the Families First Coronavirus
Response Act (Public Law 116-127; 7 U.S.C. 2011 note) is amended by
striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Report.--Not later than June 30, 2022, the Secretary of
Agriculture shall submit, to the Committee on Agriculture of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate, a report containing the following information:
``(1) A description of any information or data supporting
State agency requests under this section and any additional
measures that State agencies requested that were not approved
by the Secretary of Agriculture.
``(2) An evaluation of the use of all waivers, adjustments,
and other flexibilities in the operation of the supplemental
nutrition assistance program (as defined in section 3 of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012)), in effect
under this Act, the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2011 et seq.), or any other Act, to respond to the COVID-19
public health emergency.
``(3) A recommendation of any additional waivers or
flexibilities needed in the operation of the supplemental
nutrition assistance program to respond to public health
emergencies with pandemic potential.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
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