To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 with respect to the issuance of quality control guidance issued by the Secretary of Agriculture.
3/18/2024, 10:21 PMSummary of Bill HR 6272
Bill 118 hr 6272, also known as the "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 Amendment," aims to make changes to the way quality control guidance is issued by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 is a key piece of legislation that governs the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families.The main focus of this bill is to improve the quality control process within SNAP by ensuring that the guidance issued by the Secretary of Agriculture is clear, consistent, and effective. This will help to ensure that SNAP benefits are distributed accurately and efficiently, and that program integrity is maintained.
The bill does not propose any major changes to the overall structure or funding of the SNAP program, but rather seeks to enhance the administration and oversight of the program through improved quality control measures. By providing clearer guidance to states and other stakeholders, the bill aims to reduce errors and fraud within the program, ultimately benefiting both recipients and taxpayers. Overall, Bill 118 hr 6272 represents a bipartisan effort to strengthen the SNAP program and ensure that it continues to effectively serve those in need of food assistance. It is an important step towards improving the efficiency and integrity of the program, and has the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of millions of Americans.
Congressional Summary of HR 6272
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide a notice and comment period prior to making certain substantive changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) quality control system, with exceptions.
As background, the SNAP quality control system measures how accurately SNAP state agencies determine a household’s eligibility and benefit amount and determines overpayments of benefits and underpayments. State agencies must conduct quality control reviews of their SNAP caseloads and report these findings to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
The bill requires USDA to provide a notice and public comment period of at least 60 days prior to finalizing any new or updated guidance that proposes substantive changes for conducting quality control reviews. This applies to any proposed guidance reasonably expected to require state agencies to make changes to systems, procedures, or staffing pertaining to quality control reviews or that impact verification requirements for SNAP recipients.
In the case of an urgent and immediate need, USDA may issue interim final guidance simultaneously with the notice and comment requirements.
