PoliticalRepoPoliticalRepo

United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 2837 (117th)

Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

26 April 2021

Last action

1 July 2021 · Referred

Status

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

Sponsors

Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Gwen Moore, Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Jahana Hayes, Earl Blumenauer, Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Tony Cárdenas, Emanuel Cleaver, JAMES COOPER, Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Theodore Deutch, Raúl Grijalva, Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Marcy Kaptur, Barbara Lee, Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], BOBBY RUSH, Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], David Trone, Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Dwight Evans, Ed Case, Marilyn Strickland, Alma Adams, Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Bennie Thompson, Linda Sánchez, Albio Sires, Val Demings, Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Karen Bass, Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

5 December 2025

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

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.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 26 April 2021

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.

    Source: Committee

  2. 26 April 2021

    Introduced

    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.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 26 April 2021

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 26 April 2021

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 1 July 2021

    Referred

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

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

View fileDownload file

Sponsors

Related records

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.