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S. 2667 117th Congress Senate

Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021

Official title: A bill to amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to repeal a certain disqualification to receive benefits under titl… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to repeal a certain disqualification to receive benefits under title IV of the Social Security Act and benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008; and to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide that incarcerated individuals who are scheduled to be released from an institution within 30 days shall be considered to be a household for purposes of such Act.

Introduced: August 5, 2021 Introduced by: Cory A. Booker Democratic · New Jersey See on congress.gov
Social Welfare Drug trafficking and controlled substancesFood assistance and reliefPoverty and welfare assistanceState and local government operations
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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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 5, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Aug 5, 2021
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action August 5, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 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.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 2837 Identical bill Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021
  • HR 6492 Climate Resilience Workforce Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Democratic 7 Independent 1
D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Aug 5, 2021
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Aug 5, 2021
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Aug 5, 2021
 D
Heinrich, Martin
New Mexico · Aug 5, 2021
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Aug 5, 2021
 D
Padilla, Alex
California · Aug 5, 2021
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Aug 5, 2021
 D
Smith, Tina
Minnesota · Aug 5, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2667: Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-2667/
MLA
"S. 2667: Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-2667/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2667, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-2667/.
Markdown link
[S. 2667: Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-2667/)
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