Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110

§2027 Appropriations and Allotments

Title 7 › CHAPTER 51 — SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM › § 2027

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Money can be provided as needed to run this program for each fiscal year 2008 through 2023. Each year, up to one-fourth of 1 percent of the previous year’s funding can be used for work under section 2026, but no more than $2,000,000 in any year may go to two-year competitive grants. Those grants must improve teamwork between agencies on nutrition education and find cost-effective ways to tell people who are eligible for SNAP about nutrition, money management, and local education programs (like the expanded food and nutrition education program). The Secretary must give those grants to State cooperative extension services to run with other local agencies, include evaluations and plans to copy successful work in other States, and report results to Congress and share them with State and local offices that help low-income households. No one may use these funds to block or interfere with carrying out the program, except to provide legal help in official proceedings, and the President must make sure this rule is followed. Money recovered from claims or audits goes back into the SNAP account for the year it is collected, and money cannot be moved to the Department of Agriculture’s Inspector General or General Counsel offices. If the Secretary finds that approved benefits will cost more than the yearly funding, allotments must be limited so total benefits do not exceed the appropriation. Reductions should, as much as possible, match how a household’s income compares to eligibility standards for households of the same size. The Secretary can make special rules for people age 60 or older and for people with disabilities, and can set minimum allotments. If a report says cuts are needed, the Secretary must act within 60 days and tell the House and Senate Agriculture Committees within 7 days about the reason, how allotments will be cut, and what was done. The Secretary must also ban using funds for activities that recruit people to apply for SNAP (including promotional TV, radio, or billboard ads and agreements with foreign governments), except that TV/radio/billboard limits do not apply to activities about benefits under section 2014(h). Finally, rules must stop organizations that get these funds from paying people based on how many applicants they bring in.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §2027

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Authorization of allotments; monthly reports of expenditures to Congressional committees; restriction on use of funds; nutrition education improvements
(1)To carry out this chapter, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2023. Not to exceed one-fourth of 1 per centum of the previous year’s appropriation is authorized in each such fiscal year to carry out the provisions of section 2026 of this title, subject to paragraph (3).
(2)No funds authorized to be appropriated under this chapter or any other Act of Congress shall be used by any person, firm, corporation, group, or organization at any time, directly or indirectly, to interfere with or impede the implementation of any provision of this chapter or any rule, regulation, or project thereunder, except that this limitation shall not apply to the provision of legal and related assistance in connection with any proceeding or action before any State or Federal agency or court. The President shall ensure that this paragraph is complied with by such order or other means as the President deems appropriate.
(3)(A)Of the amounts made available under the second sentence of paragraph (1), not more than $2,000,000 in any fiscal year may be used by the Secretary to make 2-year competitive grants that will—
(i)enhance interagency cooperation in nutrition education activities; and
(ii)develop cost effective ways to inform people eligible for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits about nutrition, resource management, and community nutrition education programs, such as the expanded food and nutrition education program.
(B)The Secretary shall make awards under this paragraph to one or more State cooperative extension services (as defined in section 3103 of this title) who shall administer the grants in coordination with other State or local agencies serving low-income people.
(C)Each project shall include an evaluation component and shall develop an implementation plan for replication in other States.
(D)The Secretary shall report to the appropriate committees of Congress on the results of the projects and shall disseminate the results through the cooperative extension service system and to State human services and health department offices, local supplemental nutrition assistance program offices, and other entities serving low-income households.
(b)Limitation of value of allotments; reduction of allotments
In any fiscal year, the Secretary shall limit the value of those allotments issued to an amount not in excess of the appropriation for such fiscal year. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if in any fiscal year the Secretary finds that the requirements of participating States will exceed the appropriation, the Secretary shall direct State agencies to reduce the value of such allotments to be issued to households certified as eligible to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program to the extent necessary to comply with the provisions of this subsection.
(c)Manner of reducing allotments
In prescribing the manner in which allotments will be reduced under subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary shall ensure that such reductions reflect, to the maximum extent practicable, the ratio of household income, determined under section 2014(d) and 2014(e) of this title, to the income standards of eligibility, for households of equal size, determined under section 2014(c) of this title. The Secretary may, in prescribing the manner in which allotments will be reduced, establish (1) special provisions applicable to persons sixty years of age or over and persons who are physically or mentally handicapped or otherwise disabled, and (2) minimum allotments after any reductions are otherwise determined under this section.
(d)Requisite action by Secretary to reduce allotments; statement to Congressional committees
Not later than sixty days after the issuance of a report under subsection (a) of this section in which the Secretary expresses the belief that reductions in the value of allotments to be issued to households certified to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program will be necessary, the Secretary shall take the requisite action to reduce allotments in accordance with the requirements of this section. Not later than seven days after the Secretary takes any action to reduce allotments under this section, the Secretary shall furnish the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a statement setting forth (1) the basis of the Secretary’s determination, (2) the manner in which the allotments will be reduced, and (3) the action that has been taken by the Secretary to reduce the allotments.
(e)Disposition of funds collected pursuant to claims
Funds collected from claims against households or State agencies, including claims collected pursuant to section 2016(f) of this title, subsections (g) and (h) of section 2020 of this title, subsections (b) and (c) of section 2022 of this title, and section 2025(c)(1) of this title, claims resulting from resolution of audit findings, and claims collected from households receiving overissuances, shall be credited to the supplemental nutrition assistance program appropriation account for the fiscal year in which the collection occurs. Funds provided to State agencies under section 2025(c) of this title shall be paid from the appropriation account for the fiscal year in which the funds are provided.
(f)Transfer of funds
No funds appropriated to carry out this chapter may be transferred to the Office of the Inspector General, or the Office of the General Counsel, of the Department of Agriculture.
(g)Ban on recruitment and promotion activities
(1)In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), no funds authorized to be appropriated under this chapter shall be used by the Secretary for— (A)
(B)television, radio, or billboard advertisements that are designed to promote supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits and enrollment; or
(C)any agreements with foreign governments designed to promote supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits and enrollment.
(2)Limitation
Paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply to programmatic activities undertaken with respect to benefits made under section 2014(h) of this title.
(h)Ban on recruitment by entities that receive funds
The Secretary shall issue regulations that prohibit entities that receive funds under this chapter to compensate any person for conducting outreach activities relating to participation in, or for recruiting individuals to apply to receive benefits under, the supplemental nutrition assistance program, if the amount of the compensation would be based on the number of individuals who apply to receive the benefits.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Subsec. (f) of section 2016 of this title, referred to in subsec. (e), was redesignated (e) by Pub. L. 110–246, title IV, § 4115(a)(12), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1866. Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical

Amendments

to this section. The

Amendments

by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted “2023” for “2018”. 2014—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–79, § 4024, substituted “through 2018” for “through 2012”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113–79, § 4030(j), substituted “section 2016(f) of this title” for “section 2016(f) of this title”. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 113–79, § 4018(b), added subsec. (g). Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 113–79, § 4018(c), added subsec. (h). 2008—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4406(a)(1), substituted “for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012” for “for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2007”. Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(10), substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits” for “food stamps”. Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7101(b)(3), substituted “section 3103” for “section 3103(5)”. Subsec. (a)(3)(D). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4001(b), substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program” for “food stamp program”. Subsecs. (b), (d), (e). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4001(b), substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program” for “food stamp program”. 2002—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 107–171, § 4122(c), substituted “2003 through 2007” for “1996 through 2002”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–171, § 4118(c), substituted “subsections (g) and (h) of section 2020 of this title,” for “2020(g) and (h), and” and inserted “and section 2025(c)(1) of this title,” after “section 2022 of this title,”. 1998—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–362 struck out at end “The Secretary shall, by the fifteenth day of each month, submit a report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate setting forth the Secretary’s best estimate of the second preceding month’s expenditure, including administrative costs, as well as the cumulative totals for the fiscal year. In each monthly report, the Secretary shall also state whether there is reason to believe that supplemental appropriations will be needed to support the operation of the program through the end of the fiscal year.” 1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–193 substituted “1996 through 2002” for “1991 through 1997” in first sentence. Pub. L. 104–127 substituted “1991 through 1997” for “1991 through 1995” in first sentence. 1990—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–624, §§ 1760(1)(A), 1761(1), substituted “To carry out this chapter, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1995.” for former first two sentences which related to authorizations of appropriation for fiscal years ending
September 30, 1978 through
September 30, 1990, and inserted “, subject to paragraph (3)”. Pub. L. 101–624, § 1760(1)(B), substituted “supplemental appropriations will be needed to support the operation of the program through the end of the fiscal year” for “reductions in the value of allotments issued to households certified to participate in the food stamp program will be necessary under subsection (b) of this section”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1761(2), added par. (3). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1760(2), struck out “amount authorized in subsection (a)(1) of this section” after “exceed the appropriation”. 1985—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1541(1), inserted provisions authorizing appropriations for fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1541(2), substituted “the appropriation amount authorized in subsection (a)(1) of this section,” for “the limitation set herein,”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1535(c)(2), substituted reference to subsections (b) and (c) of section 2022 of this title for reference to 2022(b) of this title. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1542(a), added subsec. (f). 1982—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 97–253, § 183, inserted provisions for appropriations for the fiscal years ending on
September 30, 1983–1985, inclusive. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 97–253, § 180(b)(2), struck out reference to section 2025(g) of this title in first sentence. 1981—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1331, struck out “and” after “
September 30, 1980;” and inserted “; and not in excess of $11,300,000,000 for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1982”. Pub. L. 97–18 substituted “$11,480,000,000” for “$9,739,276,000” in appropriation authorization for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1981. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1332, added subsec. (e). 1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–249 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and substituted “$9,491,000,000” for “$6,188,600,000” and “$9,739,276,000” for “$6,235,900,000”, and added par. (2). 1979—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–58, § 1(1), (2), substituted “$6,778,900,000” for “$6,158,900,000” in provisions authorizing appropriations for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1979, struck out provisions directing that sums appropriated under this chapter would continue to remain available until expended, and inserted provisions requiring the Secretary to submit monthly reports to Senate and House Committees relating to monthly expenditures and stating whether or not there is reason to believe that reductions in the value of allotments issued to households certified to participate in the food stamp program will be necessary under subsec. (b) of this section. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–58, § 1(3), substituted “Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if” for “If” at beginning of second sentence. Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 96–58, § 1(4), added subsecs. (c) and (d).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2008 AmendmentAmendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 8701 of this title. Amendment by section 4001(b), 4002(a)(10), and 4406(a)(1) of Pub. L. 110–246 effective Oct. 1, 2008, see section 4407 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 1161 of Title 2, The Congress.

Effective Date

of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by section 4118(c) of Pub. L. 107–171 not applicable with respect to any sanction, appeal, new investment agreement, or other action by the Secretary of Agriculture or a State agency that is based on a payment error rate calculated for any fiscal year before fiscal year 2003, see section 4118(e) of Pub. L. 107–171, set out as a note under section 2022 of this title. Amendment by section 4122(c) of Pub. L. 107–171 effective Oct. 1, 2002, except as otherwise provided, see section 4405 of Pub. L. 107–171, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 1161 of Title 2, The Congress.

Effective Date

of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by section 1760(1)(A) and 1761 of Pub. L. 101–624 effective Oct. 1, 1990, and amendment by section 1760(1)(B), (2) of Pub. L. 101–624 effective Nov. 28, 1990, see section 1781(b)(1), (2) of Pub. L. 101–624, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1985 Amendment Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, § 1542(b), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1589, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall become effective on October 1, 1986.”

Effective Date

of 1982 AmendmentAmendment by section 180(b)(2) of Pub. L. 97–253 effective Oct. 1, 1982, see section 193(b) of Pub. L. 97–253, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. Amendment by section 183 of Pub. L. 97–253 effective Sept. 8, 1982, see section 193(a) of Pub. L. 97–253, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–98 effective on earlier of Sept. 8, 1982, or date such amendment became effective pursuant to section 1338 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title, see section 192(b) of Pub. L. 97–253, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 97–98 effective upon such date as Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe, taking into account need for orderly implementation, see section 1338 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 95–113, title XIII, § 1301, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 958, provided that this section is effective Oct. 1, 1977. Availability of Amounts if Sequestration Order Issued for Fiscal Year 1989Amounts available to carry out food stamp program [now supplemental nutrition assistance program] under this section to be reduced if sequestration order is issued under section 902(b) of Title 2, The Congress, see section 701(c)(1) of Pub. L. 100–435, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1988 Amendment note under section 2012 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 2027

Title 7, Agriculture

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110