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HR 2837 117th Congress House Social Welfare Drug trafficking and controlled substances Food assistance and relief Poverty and welfare assistance State and local government operations

Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021

Introduced: June 16, 2021 Introduced by: Cohen, Steve Democratic · Tennessee See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 1, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
Apr 26, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.
Apr 26, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
Apr 26, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021

This bill repeals a lifetime ban that prohibits individuals convicted of certain offenses related to the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or assistance under programs funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants. Any state law that imposes conditions on eligibility for SNAP benefits or TANF assistance based on an individual's conviction of such an offense shall have no force or effect.

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.

What's happening now July 1, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 2667 Identical bill Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 36
All 36 Democratic 30
D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Sep 29, 2022
Bass, Karen
· Apr 1, 2022
 D
Titus, Dina
Nevada · Jan 12, 2022
 D
Raskin, Jamie
Maryland · Dec 14, 2021
Demings, Val
· Jun 30, 2021
 D
Trahan, Lori
Massachusetts · Jun 30, 2021
 D
Sánchez, Linda T.
California · Jun 16, 2021
Sires, Albio
· Jun 16, 2021
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Jun 16, 2021
 D
Pingree, Chellie
Maine · Jun 4, 2021
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Jun 4, 2021
 D
Adams, Alma S.
North Carolina · May 28, 2021
 D
Case, Ed
Hawaii · May 28, 2021
 D
Strickland, Marilyn
Washington · May 28, 2021
 D
Barragán, Nanette Diaz
California · Apr 28, 2021
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Apr 28, 2021
 D
Evans, Dwight
Pennsylvania · Apr 28, 2021
 D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Apr 28, 2021
 D
Ross, Deborah K.
North Carolina · Apr 28, 2021
 D
Bonamici, Suzanne
Oregon · Apr 26, 2021
 D
Cleaver, Emanuel
Missouri · Apr 26, 2021
COOPER, JAMES
· Apr 26, 2021
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Apr 26, 2021
 D
Dean, Madeleine
Pennsylvania · Apr 26, 2021
Deutch, Theodore
· Apr 26, 2021
 D
Hayes, Jahana
Connecticut · Apr 26, 2021
 D
Horsford, Steven
Nevada · Apr 26, 2021
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Apr 26, 2021
 D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Apr 26, 2021
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Apr 26, 2021
RUSH, BOBBY
· Apr 26, 2021
 D
Scanlon, Mary Gay
Pennsylvania · Apr 26, 2021
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Apr 26, 2021
 D
Tlaib, Rashida
Michigan · Apr 26, 2021
 D
Watson Coleman, Bonnie
New Jersey · Apr 26, 2021
 D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Apr 26, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2837: Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2837/
MLA
"H.R. 2837: Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2837/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2837, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2837/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2837: Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2837/)
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