Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5129
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-16T08:07:31Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit levels by shifting calculations from the thrifty food plan to the low-cost food plan. It also updates income deductions and removes certain eligibility restrictions.
Key Provisions
- Section 1: Short title is the "Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025."
- Section 2: Replaces references to the thrifty food plan with the low-cost food plan in benefit calculations; defines the low-cost food plan based on a 4-person family model with periodic reevaluations; adjusts allotments for household size, Hawaii, and Alaska; updates quality control error thresholds and related funding formulas.
- Section 3: Changes the medical expense deduction to allow a standard amount ($140 in fiscal year 2023, adjusted annually for inflation) or actual costs for elderly or disabled members; eliminates the cap on excess shelter expense deductions.
- Section 4: Removes the time limit on SNAP eligibility for able-bodied adults without dependents; makes conforming changes to related statutes.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Benefit calculations shift from the lower thrifty food plan to the higher low-cost food plan, with updated adjustment factors.
- The medical deduction is expanded beyond excess costs only, and the shelter deduction cap is repealed.
- The three-month time limit for certain adults is eliminated, broadening ongoing eligibility.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture and state SNAP agencies would implement revised calculations, quality control standards, and eligibility rules, likely increasing administrative workload and program expenditures.
- Citizens: SNAP participants, particularly families, elderly individuals, and disabled members, could receive higher monthly benefits and face fewer restrictions on continued receipt.
- International relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- SNAP recipients and applicant households.
- State agencies responsible for program administration.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service.
- Low-income families, elderly persons, and individuals with disabilities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill operates within Congress's authority over federal spending and nutrition assistance programs.
- It expands program scope without introducing new regulatory mandates on states or private entities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- 2025-09-04: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-09-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-04 — PDF (12 pages)