S. 2792

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require that supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits be calculated using the value of the low-cost food plan, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · September 11, 2025 · Sponsor: Mrs. Gillibrand · Committee: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

S. 2792

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Calculation of program benefits using low-cost food plan

(a) Definition of low-Cost food plan
- Section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended— 7 U.S.C. 2012
  - by striking subsection (u);
  - by redesignating subsections (n) through (t) as subsections (o) through (u), respectively; and
  - by inserting after subsection (m) the following:
(b) Value of allotment
- Section 8(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended— 7 U.S.C. 2017(a)
  - by striking each place it appears and inserting low-cost food plan; and
  - in the proviso, by striking 8 percentand inserting 10 percent.
(c) Quality control system
- Section 16(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended— 7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(1)(A)(ii)
  - in subclause (II)—
    - by striking thrifty food plan is adjusted under section 3(u)(4)and inserting low-cost food plan is adjusted under section 3(n)(3)(D); and
    - by striking and inserting ;
  - by redesignating subclause (II) as subclause (III); and
    - for fiscal year 2025, at an amount not greater than $50;
    - for fiscal year 2026, the amount specified in subclause (I) adjusted by the difference between the thrifty food plan (as defined in section 3 (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the )) and the low-cost food plan; and
  - by striking subclause (I) and inserting the following:
(d) Conforming amendments
- Section 10 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended, in the first sentence, by striking 3(o)(4)and inserting 3(p)(4). 7 U.S.C. 2019
- Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended— 7 U.S.C. 2020
  - in subsection (a)(2), by striking 3(s)(1)and inserting 3(t)(1);
  - in subsection (d)—
    - (i) by striking each place it appears and inserting 3(t)(1);
    - (ii) by striking each place it appears and inserting 3(t)(2); and
    - (iii) by striking and inserting ; and
  - in subsection (e)(17), by striking 3(s)(1)and inserting 3(t)(1).
- Section 19(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended by striking thrifty food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4)and inserting low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(n)(3)(D). 7 U.S.C. 2028(a)(2)(A)(ii)
- Section 27(a)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended— 7 U.S.C. 2036(a)(2)
  - in subparagraph (C), by inserting after ;
  - in subparagraph (D)(ix), by striking and at the end;
  - by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F);
    - for fiscal year 2025, the sum obtained by adding—
      - (i) the dollar amount of commodities specified in subparagraph (B) adjusted by the percentage by which the low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4) between June 30, 2025, and June 30 of the immediately preceding fiscal year; and
      - (ii) $35,000,000; and
  - by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
  - in subparagraph (F) (as so redesignated), by striking subparagraph (D)(ix) adjusted by the percentage by which the thrifty food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4)and inserting subparagraph (F) adjusted by the percentage by which the low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(n)(3)(D).
- Section 408(a)(12)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act () is amended by striking each place it appears. 42 U.S.C. 608(a)(12)(B)(i)

SEC. 3. Deductions from income

(a) Standard medical expense deduction
- Section 5(e)(5) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended— 7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(5)
  - in the paragraph heading, by striking and inserting ;
  - in subparagraph (A), by striking an excess medicaland 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 member, exclusive of special diets.;
  - in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ; and
    - (D) Standard medical expense deduction amount
      - (i) Except as provided in clause (ii), the standard medical expense deduction shall be—
      - for fiscal year 2025, $140; and
      - for each subsequent fiscal year, equal to the applicable amount for the immediately preceding fiscal year as adjusted to reflect changes for the 12-month period ending the preceding June 30 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Medical Care published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.
      - (ii) For any fiscal year, a State agency may establish a greater standard medical expense deduction than described in clause (i) if the greater deduction satisfies cost neutrality standards established by the Secretary for that fiscal year.
  - by adding at the end the following:
(b) Elimination of cap of excess shelter expenses
- (1) In general
  - Section 5(e)(6) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended— 7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)
    - by striking subparagraph (B); and
    - by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively.
- (2) Conforming amendment
  - Section 2605(f)(2)(A) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 () is amended by striking and inserting . 42 U.S.C. 8624(f)(2)(A)

SEC. 4. Elimination of time limit

(a) In general
- Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended— 7 U.S.C. 2015
  - by striking subsection (o); and
  - by redesignating subsections (p) through (s) as subsections (o) through (r), respectively.
(b) Conforming amendments
- Section 5(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended, in the second sentence, by striking (r)and inserting (q). 7 U.S.C. 2014(a)
- Section 6(d)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended— 7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(4)
  - in subparagraph (B)(ii)(I)(bb)(DD), by striking ; and
  - in subparagraph (N), by striking each place it appears.
- Section 7(i)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended by striking . 7 U.S.C. 2016(i)(1)
- Section 16(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 () is amended— 7 U.S.C. 2025(h)
  - in paragraph (1)—
    - (i) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking that—and all that follows through the period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting that is determined and adjusted by the Secretary.;
    - (ii) by striking subparagraph (E);
    - (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (E); and
    - (iv) in clause (ii)(III)(ee)(AA) of subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated), by striking ; and
  - in paragraph (5)(C)—
    - (i) in clause (ii), by adding at the end; and
    - (ii) in clause (iii), by striking and inserting a period; and; and
    - (iii) by striking clause (iv).
- of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— Section 51(d)(8)(A)(ii)
  - in subclause (I), by striking , or at the end and inserting a period;
  - in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking family—and all that follows through in subclause (I) and inserting receiving; and
  - by striking subclause (II).
- Section 103(a)(2) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act () is amended— 29 U.S.C. 3113
  - by striking subparagraph (D); and
  - by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (K) as subparagraphs (D) through (J), respectively.
- Section 121(b)(2)(B) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act () is amended— 29 U.S.C. 3151
  - by striking clause (iv); and
  - by redesignating clauses (v) through (vii) as clauses (iv) through (vi), respectively.

S. 2792

Table of contents

SEC. 1. Short title

SEC. 2. Calculation of program benefits using low-cost food plan

SEC. 3. Deductions from income

SEC. 4. Elimination of time limit