Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2020

House Bill 5915 - Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2020: Overview, Status, and Impact

Hozzl · 2022-02-08T23:16:16Z

Explore the details of House Bill 5915 Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2020 currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on Social Welfare. Stay informed on legislative developments.

2/8/2022, 11:16 PM

Congressional Summary of HR 5915

Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2020

This bill repeals a lifetime ban that prohibits individuals convicted of certain offenses related to the possession, use, or distribution of controlled substances from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or assistance under programs funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grants. 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.

Existing state laws that removed or modified the federal ban at the state level shall have no force or effect.

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Current Status of Bill HR 5915

Bill HR 5915 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since February 14, 2020. Bill HR 5915 was introduced during Congress 116 and was introduced to the House on February 14, 2020. Bill HR 5915's most recent activity was Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations. as of March 5, 2020

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 5915

Total Number of Sponsors

Democrat Sponsors

Republican Sponsors

Unaffiliated Sponsors

Total Number of Cosponsors

Democrat Cosponsors

Republican Cosponsors

Unaffiliated Cosponsors

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 5915

Primary Policy Focus

Social Welfare

Potential Impact Areas

- Drug trafficking and controlled substances

- Food assistance and relief

- Poverty and welfare assistance

- State and local government operations

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 5915

Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2020

To amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to repeal a certain disqualification to receive benefits under title IV of the Social Security Act and benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008; and to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide that incarcerated individuals who are scheduled to be released from an institution within 30 days shall be considered to be a household for purposes of such Act.

Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2020