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], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Trone, David J. [D-MD-6], 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], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-13], Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10], Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

5 December 2025

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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

26 April 2021
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.
Source: Committee
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
26 April 2021
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
26 April 2021
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
1 July 2021
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Introduced in House · 26 April 2021 · Download file

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 26 April 2021
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 26 April 2021
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 26 April 2021
Open at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
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Related records

related to ← Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021

Sources

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

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2837
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/117/hr/2837
us · 117-hr-2837 · source updated 5 December 2025