Skip to main content
H.R. 4540 114th Congress House

SNAP Empowerment and Accountability Act of 2016

Official title: To provide clarity regarding States' ability to manage the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and to provide States with funding to treat drug addiction in the SNAP population.

Introduced: February 11, 2016 Introduced by: Robert B. Aderholt Republican · Alabama See on congress.gov
Agriculture and Food Drug, alcohol, tobacco useEnergy assistance for the poor and agedFood assistance and reliefHealth programs administration and fundingMedical tests and diagnostic methods
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 23, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
Feb 29, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.
Feb 12, 2016
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 11, 2016
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 11, 2016
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action March 23, 2016

Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

SNAP Empowerment and Accountability Act of 2016

This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to permit states to use drug test results for determining eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration must award grants to states to treat individuals who test positive.

The bill increases from $20 to $50 the amount of annual benefits received under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 or a similar energy assistance program which qualifies a SNAP applicant to use a standard utility allowance to document heating and cooling costs for calculating benefits.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 7
All 7 Republican 5
R
Schweikert, David
Arizona · Mar 14, 2016
 R
Rouzer, David
North Carolina · Mar 1, 2016
 R
Grothman, Glenn
Wisconsin · Feb 26, 2016
Brooks, Mo
· Feb 24, 2016
 R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · Feb 24, 2016
 R
Harris, Andy
Maryland · Feb 24, 2016
Meadows, Mark
· Feb 12, 2016
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4540: SNAP Empowerment and Accountability Act of 2016. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4540/
MLA
"H.R. 4540: SNAP Empowerment and Accountability Act of 2016." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4540/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4540, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4540/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4540: SNAP Empowerment and Accountability Act of 2016](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4540/)
Report a problem