,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #accf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bg1 #bjbc,mrs4 ,gillibrand 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,welch1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 and ,mr4 ,fetterman7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh to require that supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits be calculated using the value of the low-cost food plan1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,closing the ,meal ,gap ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,calculation of program benefits using low-cost food plan 7a7 ,definition of low-,cost food plan ,section #c of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjab7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking subsection 7u72 7#b7 by redesignating subsections 7n7 through 7t7 as subsections 7o7 through 7u71 respectively2 and 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7m7 the following3 7n7 ,low-,cost food plan 7#a7 ,in general ,the term low-cost food plan means the diet1 determined in accordance with the calculations of the ,secretary1 required to feed a #d-person family that consists of-- 7,a7 a man and a woman who are each between #ai and #ej years of age2 7,b7 a child who is between #f and #h years of age2 and 7,c7 a child who is between #i and #aa years of age4 7#b7 ,reevaluation ,by ,december #ca1 #bjbi1 and at #e-year intervals thereafter1 the ,secretary shall reevaluate and publish the market baskets of the low-cost food plan1 based on current food prices1 food composition data1 consumption patterns1 and dietary guidance4 7#c7 ,cost ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a71 the cost of the diet described in that paragraph shall be the basis for uniform allotments for all households regardless of the actual composition of the household1 except that the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 make household-size adjustments 7based on the unrounded cost of that diet7 taking into account economies of scale2 7,b7 make cost adjustments in the low-cost food plan for the ,state of ,hawaii and the urban and rural parts of the ,state of ,alaska to reflect the cost of food in ,hawaii and urban and rural ,alaska1 respectively2 and 7,c7 on ,october #a1 #bjbc1 and each ,october #a thereafter1 adjust the cost of the diet to reflect the cost of the diet in the immediately preceding ,june1 and round the result to the nearest lower-dollar increment for each household size4 4 7b7 ,value of allotment ,section #h7;a7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjag7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking thrifty food plan each place it appears and inserting low-cost food plan2 and 7#b7 in the proviso1 by striking #h percent and inserting #aj percent4 7c7 ,quality control system ,section #af7;c77#a77;,a77ii7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbe7;c77#a77;,a77ii77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subclause 7,,ii7-- 7,a7 by striking thrifty food plan is adjusted under section #c7u77#d7 and inserting low-cost food plan is adjusted under section #c7n77#c77;,d72 and 7,b7 by striking #bjac and inserting #bjbc2 7#b7 by redesignating subclause 7,,ii7 as subclause 7,,iii72 and 7#c7 by striking subclause 7,i7 and inserting the following3 7,i7 for fiscal year #bjbc1 at an amount not greater than #ej2 7,,ii7 for fiscal year #bjbd1 the amount specified in subclause 7,i7 adjusted by the difference between the thrifty food plan 7as defined in section #c 7as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the ,closing the ,meal ,gap ,act of #bjbc77 and the low-cost food plan2 and 4 7d7 ,conforming amendments 7#a7 ,section #aj of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjai7 is amended1 in the first sentence1 by striking #c7o77#d7 and inserting #c7p77#d74 7#b7 ,section #aa of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbj7 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7a77#b71 by striking #c7s77#a7 and inserting #c7t77#a72 7,b7 in subsection 7d7-- 7i7 by striking #c7s77#a7 each place it appears and inserting #c7t77#a72 7ii7 by striking #c7s77#b7 each place it appears and inserting #c7t77#b72 and 7iii7 by striking ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dej7 and inserting and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ceja et seq472 and 7,c7 in subsection 7e77#ag71 by striking #c7s77#a7 and inserting #c7t77#a74 7#c7 ,section #ai7;a77#b77;,a77ii7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbh7;a77#b77;,a77ii77 is amended by striking thrifty food plan has been adjusted under section #c7u77#d7 and inserting low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section #c7n77#c77;,d74 7#d7 ,section #bg7;a77#b7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjcf7;a77#b77 is amended-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by inserting 7as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the ,closing the ,meal ,gap ,act of #bjbc7 after section #c7u77#d72 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,d77ix71 by striking and at the end2 7,c7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,e7 as subparagraph 7,f72 7,d7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,d7 the following3 7,e7 for fiscal year #bjbc1 the sum obtained by adding-- 7i7 the dollar amount of commodities specified in subparagraph 7,b7 adjusted by the percentage by which the low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section #c7u77#d7 between ,june #cj1 #bjba1 and ,june #cj of the immediately preceding fiscal year2 and 7ii7 #ce1jjj1jjj2 and 2 and 7,e7 in subparagraph 7,f7 7as so redesignated71 by striking subparagraph 7,d77ix7 adjusted by the percentage by which the thrifty food plan has been adjusted under section #c7u77#d7 and inserting subparagraph 7,f7 adjusted by the percentage by which the low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section #c7n77#c77;,d74 7#e7 ,section #djh7;a77#ab77;,b77i7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjh7;a77#ab77;,b77i77 is amended by striking 7r7 each place it appears4 #c4 ,deductions from income 7a7 ,standard medical expense deduction ,section #e7;e77#e7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjad7;e77#e77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the paragraph heading1 by striking ,excess medical and inserting ,medical2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking an excess medical and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting a standard medical deduction or a medical expense deduction of actual costs for the allowable medical expenses incurred by the elderly or disabled member1 exclusive of special diets42 7#c7 in subparagraph 7,b77i71 by striking excess2 and 7#d7 by adding at the end the following3 7,d7 ,standard medical expense deduction amount 7i7 ,in general ,except as provided in clause 7ii71 the standard medical expense deduction shall be-- 7,i7 for fiscal year #bjbc1 #adj2 and 7,,ii7 for each subsequent fiscal year1 equal to the applicable amount for the immediately preceding fiscal year as adjusted to reflect changes for the #ab-month period ending the preceding ,june #cj in the ,consumer ,price ,index for ,all ,urban ,consumers3 ,medical ,care published by the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics of the ,department of ,labor4 7ii7 ,exception ,for any fiscal year1 a ,state agency may establish a greater standard medical expense deduction than described in clause 7i7 if the greater deduction satisfies cost neutrality standards established by the ,secretary for that fiscal year4 4 7b7 ,elimination of cap of excess shelter expenses 7#a7 ,in general ,section #e7;e77#f7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjad7;e77#f77 is amended-- 7,a7 by striking subparagraph 7,b72 and 7,b7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,c7 and 7,d7 as subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,c71 respectively4 7#b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #bfje7;f77#b77;,a7 of the ,low-,income ,home ,energy ,assistance ,act of #aiha 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hfbd7;f77#b77;,a77 is amended by striking #e7;e77#f77;,c77iv77,i7 of that ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjad7;e77#f77;,c77iv77,i77 and inserting #e7;e77#f77;,b77iv77,i7 of that ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjad7;e77#f77;,b77iv77,i774 #d4 ,elimination of time limit 7a7 ,in general ,section #f of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking subsection 7o72 and 7#b7 by redesignating subsections 7p7 through 7s7 as subsections 7o7 through 7r71 respectively4 7b7 ,conforming amendments 7#a7 ,section #e7;a7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjad7;a77 is amended1 in the second sentence1 by striking 7r7 and inserting 7q74 7#b7 ,section #f7;d77#d7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae7;d77#d77 is amended-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,b77ii77,i77bb77,,dd71 by striking or subsection 7o72 and 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,n71 by striking or subsection 7o7 each place it appears4 7#c7 ,section #g7;i77#a7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaf7;i77#a77 is amended by striking section #f7o77#b7 of this ,act or4 7#d7 ,section #af7;h7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbe7;h77 is amended-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,b71 in the matter preceding clause 7i71 by striking that-- and all that follows through the period at the end of clause 7ii7 and inserting that is determined and adjusted by the ,secretary42 7ii7 by striking subparagraph 7,e72 7iii7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,f7 as subparagraph 7,e72 and 7iv7 in clause 7ii77,,iii77ee77,,aa7 of subparagraph 7,e7 7as so redesignated71 by striking 1 individuals subject to the requirements under section #f7o712 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#e77;,c7-- 7i7 in clause 7ii71 by adding and at the end2 7ii7 in clause 7iii71 by striking 2 and and inserting a period2 and 7iii7 by striking clause 7iv74 7#e7 ,section #ea7;d77#h77;,a77ii7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf is amended-- 7,a7 in subclause 7,i71 by striking 1 or at the end and inserting a period2 7,b7 in the matter preceding subclause 7,i71 by striking family-- and all that follows through receiving in subclause 7,i7 and inserting family receiving2 and 7,c7 by striking subclause 7,,ii74 7#f7 ,section #ajc7;a77#b7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caac7 is amended-- 7,a7 by striking subparagraph 7,d72 and 7,b7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,e7 through 7,k7 as subparagraphs 7,d7 through 7,j71 respectively4 7#g7 ,section #aba7;b77#b77;,b7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caea7 is amended-- 7,a7 by striking clause 7iv72 and 7,b7 by redesignating clauses 7v7 through 7vii7 as clauses 7iv7 through 7vi71 respectively4 #e4 ,inclusion of ,puerto ,rico in the supplemental nutritional assistance program 7a7 ,definitions ,section #c of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjab7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7r71 by inserting the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 after ,guam12 and 7#b7 in subsection 7u77#c71 by inserting the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 after ,guam14 7b7 ,eligible households ,section #e of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjad7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b71 in the first sentence1 by inserting the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 after ,guam12 7#b7 in subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking and ,guam1 and inserting ,guam1 and the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico12 and 7,b7 in the undesignated matter at the end1 by striking ,states or ,guam and inserting ,states1 ,guam1 or the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico2 and 7#c7 in subsection 7e7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 by inserting the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 after ,hawaii1 each place it appears2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#f77;,b71 in the matter preceding clause 7i71 by inserting the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 after ,guam14 7c7 ,effective date 7#a7 ,in general ,the amendments made by subsections 7a7 and 7b7 shall be effective with respect to the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico on the date described in paragraph 7#b7 if the ,secretary of ,agriculture submits to ,congress a certification under subsection 7f77#b77;,c7 of section #ai of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbh74 7#b7 ,date described ,the date referred to in paragraph 7#a7 is the date established by the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico in the applicable plan of operation submitted to the ,secretary of ,agriculture under subsection 7f77#a7 of section #ai of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbh74 7d7 ,transition of ,puerto ,rico to supplemental nutrition assistance program ,section #ai of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbh7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7f7 ,transition of ,puerto ,rico to supplemental nutrition assistance program 7#a7 ,request for participation ,the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico may submit to the ,secretary a request to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program1 which shall include a plan of operation described in section #aa7;d71 which shall include the date on which the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico intends to begin participation in the program4 7#b7 ,certification by ,secretary 7,a7 ,in general ,on submission of a request by the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall certify the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico as qualified to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program if the ,secretary-- 7i7 approves the plan of operation submitted with the request1 in accordance with this subsection2 and 7ii7 approves the applications described in paragraph 7#d7 in accordance with that paragraph4 7,b7 ,certification decision ,the ,secretary shall certify or not certify the request of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico under paragraph 7#a7 not later than #ij days after the date on which the ,secretary receives the request4 7,c7 ,submission of certification to ,congress ,the ,secretary shall submit a certification under subparagraph 7,a7 to ,congress4 7#c7 ,determination of plan of operation 7,a7 ,approval ,the ,secretary shall approve a plan of operation submitted with a request under paragraph 7#a7 if the plan satisfies the requirements under this ,act4 7,b7 ,disapproval ,if the ,secretary does not approve a plan of operation submitted with a request under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall provide a statement that describes each requirement under this ,act that is not satisfied by the plan4 7#d7 ,approval of retail food stores ,if the ,secretary approves a plan of operation under paragraph 7#c77;,a7 for the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,secretary shall accept applications from retail food stores located in the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico to be authorized under section #i to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program4 7#e7 ,family ,market ,program ,notwithstanding subsection 7g71 the ,secretary shall allow the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico to continue to carry out under the supplemental nutrition assistance program the ,family ,market ,program established pursuant to this section4 7#f7 ,temporary funding ,if the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico has a request under paragraph 7#a7 pending before the ,secretary 7including a plan of operation pending under paragraph 7#c771 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico shall receive block grants under this section1 in amounts determined by the ,secretary1 until the date on which the ,secretary certifies the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico under paragraph 7#b77;,b74 7#g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection for fiscal year #bjbc1 to remain available until expended4 7g7 ,technical infrastructure implementation 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico may request from the ,secretary a #a-time grant to pay for the cost of the technology infrastructure necessary to implement the supplemental nutrition assistance program1 including the cost of information technology1 information technology personnel1 and training relating to program implementation4 7#b7 ,application ,in making a request under paragraph 7#a71 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including-- 7,a7 a description of the costs to be paid for by the grant2 and 7,b7 a plan for implementing the technology infrastructure described in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 within #a year of receiving the grant2 and 7ii7 that is reasonably cost efficient1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#c7 ,determination 7,a7 ,time limit ,the ,secretary shall approve or deny an application submitted under paragraph 7#b7 not later than #ij days after the date on which the application is submitted4 7,b7 ,denial ,if the ,secretary denies an application submitted under paragraph 7#b71 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico may amend the plan described in subparagraph 7,b7 of that paragraph1 in coordination with the ,secretary1 to resubmit to the ,secretary for approval4 7#d7 ,funding 7,a7 ,in general ,there is appropriated to the ,secretary1 out of funds in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 #aab1ejj1jjj to carry out this subsection1 to remain available until #c years after the date of enactment of this subsection4 7,b7 ,reversion of funds ,any funds appropriated to the ,secretary under subparagraph 7,a7 that remain available by the date described in that subparagraph shall revert to the ,treasury4 7h7 ,termination of effectiveness 7#a7 ,in general ,subsections 7a7 through 7e7 shall cease to be effective with respect to the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico on the date described in paragraph 7#b7 if the ,secretary submits to ,congress a certification under subsection 7f77#b77;,c7 for the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico4 7#b7 ,date described ,the date referred to in paragraph 7#a7 is the date established by the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico in the applicable plan of operation submitted to the ,secretary under subsection 7f77#a74 4