College Student Hunger Act of 2021
This bill expands the eligibility of students at institutions of higher education to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
SNAP eligibility for students is expanded to include certain low-income students who (1) are employed a minimum of 10 hours per week (currently 20 hours) during the regular school year, (2) are eligible for a federal Pell Grant, (3) have an expected family contribution equal to zero, or (4) are independent.
Additionally, the bill directs
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5595 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5595
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand the eligibility
of students to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance
program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 15, 2021
Mr. Lawson of Florida (for himself, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr.
Blumenauer, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Grijalva,
Mr. Raskin, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Norton, Ms.
Wilson of Florida, Mrs. Demings, Ms. Bass, Mr. Green of Texas, Ms.
Jacobs of California, Mrs. Hayes, and Ms. Meng) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and
in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand the eligibility
of students to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance
program, and for other purposes.
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 ``College Student Hunger Act of
2021''.
SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Definition of Household.--Section 3(m) of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(m)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``, except with respect
to the individuals described in paragraph (5)(F),'' before
``constitute''; and
(2) in paragraph (5), by adding at the end the following:
``(F) Students that are enrolled in and are
residents of an institution of higher education (as
defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) and are eligible to participate
in the supplemental nutrition assistance program under
paragraphs (1) through (11) of section 6(e).''.
(b) Eligibility of Students.--Section 6(e) of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``20'' and inserting
``10'';
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant under section
401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a);
``(10) has an expected family contribution equal to zero,
as determined by the procedures established in part F of title
IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087kk et
seq.); or
``(11) is independent (as the term is defined under
subparagraph (B), (C), (D), (G), or (H) of section 480(d)(1) of
the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(d)(1))).''.
SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY NOTIFICATION FOR STUDENTS.
Not later than 1 year after the effective date under section 7, the
Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of
Agriculture, shall--
(1) notify each student who completes the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid and is eligible for a Federal Pell
Grant under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1070a) or has an expected family contribution equal to
zero, as determined by the procedures established in part F of
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087kk
et seq.), that the student may be eligible for the supplemental
nutrition assistance program established under the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); and
(2) direct each student notified under paragraph (1) to the
appropriate State resource to apply for benefits under that
program.
SEC. 4. COMMUNICATION OF INFORMATION ON STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR THE
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) College student.--The term ``college student'' means a
student enrolled in an institution of higher education.
(2) Inspector general.--The term ``Inspector General''
means the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture.
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1002).
(4) Program.--The term ``program'' means the supplemental
nutrition assistance program established under the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(b) Audit.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the effective
date under section 7, the Inspector General shall conduct an
audit of the operations of the Food and Nutrition Service to
examine the procedures and outreach practices used by the Food
and Nutrition Service to provide to State agencies information
about the eligibility of students at institutions of higher
education for participation in the program.
(2) Report to congress.--Not later than 90 days after
completing the audit under paragraph (1), the Inspector General
shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of the
audit.
(c) Strategies Report.--Not later than 90 days after the Inspector
General submits to Congress a report under subsection (b)(2), the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes the strategy
to be used by the Food and Nutrition Service--
(1) to increase the awareness of State agencies and
institutions of higher education about--
(A) college student hunger;
(B) the eligibility of college students for the
program; and
(C) the procedures and resources available to
college students who are participating in the program
to access benefits under the program;
(2) to identify existing or potential barriers and
mitigation strategies with respect to those barriers; and
(3) to update the strategic communications plan under
subsection (d).
(d) Updated State Outreach Plan Guidance.--Not later than 90 days
after the Inspector General submits to Congress a report under
subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall publish an updated State
Outreach Plan Guidance that--
(1) describes existing data on college student hunger;
(2) describes the manner in which college students can
access the supplemental nutrition assistance program;
(3) recommends outreach activities to address college
student hunger and encourages States to conduct those and other
outreach activities;
(4) provides a template for a State to submit information
to the Secretary describing the outreach activities being
carried out by the State to address college student hunger; and
(5) contains updated guidance based on the results of the
audit conducted under subsection (b)(1) and the contents of the
report submitted under subsection (c).
SEC. 5. DEMONSTRATION PILOT PROGRAM.
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 31. COLLEGE STUDENT HUNGER PILOT PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) College student.--The term `college student' means a
student enrolled in an institution of higher education.
``(2) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given the
term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1002).
``(3) Pilot program.--The term `pilot program' means the
pilot program established under subsection (b).
``(b) Pilot Program.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the
Secretary of Education, shall establish a pilot program under which the
Secretary shall carry out demonstration projects in accordance with
subsection (c)--
``(1) to decrease student hunger at institutions of higher
education; and
``(2) to reduce barriers to college students fully
utilizing supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits at
institutions of higher education.
``(c) Demonstration Projects.--To carry out the pilot program, the
Secretary shall carry out demonstration projects that test the
following new supplemental nutrition assistance program delivery
methods:
``(1) Allowing a college student receiving supplemental
nutrition assistance program benefits to use those benefits or
the cash value of those benefits--
``(A) to purchase prepared foods from a campus
dining hall, on-campus store, or other on-campus
merchant or provider that typically sells prepared
meals and is affiliated with the institution of higher
education at which the student is enrolled; and
``(B) to pay the institution of higher education
the cost of an on-campus college meal plan, in whole or
in part.
``(2) Allowing a college student to use an EBT card or a
campus-specific card at any of the locations described in
paragraph (1)(A).
``(d) Project Limit.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out not more
than 10 demonstration projects under the pilot program
simultaneously.
``(2) Institutions.--The Secretary shall carry out not more
than 1 demonstration project under the pilot program at any
single institution of higher education.
``(e) Project Administration.--The Secretary shall establish
criteria and parameters for selecting, operating, monitoring, and
terminating each demonstration project under the pilot program.
``(f) Project Termination.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
Secretary shall ensure that the termination of a demonstration project
under the pilot program shall not cause sudden adverse changes or the
elimination of benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance
program for students participating in the demonstration project.
``(g) Program Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate on
the date that is 10 years after the date on which the pilot program is
established.
``(h) Evaluation.--For the duration of the pilot program, the
Secretary shall, in collaboration with the Under Secretary for
Research, Education, and Economics and the Director of the Institute of
Education Sciences, conduct an annual evaluation of each demonstration
project carried out under the pilot program during the year covered by
the evaluation, including an analysis of the extent to which the
project is meeting the desired outcomes.
``(i) Report.--For the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committees on Agriculture and Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives an annual report that includes--
``(1) a description of each demonstration project carried
out under the pilot program during the year covered by the
report;
``(2) the evaluation conducted under subsection (h); and
``(3) recommendations for legislation to improve the
supplemental nutrition assistance program to better serve
college students.
``(j) Waiver and Modification Authority.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
may, as may be necessary solely to carry out the pilot
program--
``(A) waive any provision under this Act,
including--
``(i) the requirement relating to local
sales tax under section 4(a);
``(ii) requirements relating to the
issuance and use of supplemental nutrition
assistance program benefits under section 7;
and
``(iii) requirements for approval of retail
food stores under section 9; and
``(B) modify the definitions under this Act for the
purposes of the pilot program, including the definition
of--
``(i) the term `food' under section 3(k);
``(ii) the term `household' under section
3(m); and
``(iii) the term `retail food store' under
section 3(o).
``(2) Limitation.--The Secretary may not waive a provision
or modify a definition under paragraph (1) if the waiver or
modification will--
``(A) cause increased difficulty for any household
to apply for or access supplemental nutrition
assistance program benefits; or
``(B) reduce the value of those benefits for any
household.
``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out
this section.''.
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on
the first day of the fiscal year that begins after the date of
enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
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