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116-hr-5915116th Congress

Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2020

Sponsored By: Representative Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

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Summary

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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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

TN • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/3/2020

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 2/14/2020

  • Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/14/2020

  • Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 2/14/2020

  • Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 2/14/2020

  • Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/14/2020

  • Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2020

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2020

  • Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2020

  • Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/26/2020

  • Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/26/2020

  • Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2020

  • Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/5/2020

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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