“To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to reform the restaurant meals program, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section revises the restaurant meals program under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which allows certain eligible households (i.e., elderly, disabled, or homeless individuals) to redeem benefits for hot meals at approved restaurants or other outlets. Specifically, it (1) expands eligibility to retail food stores that operate a prepared food section, hot bar, or deli counter; are not primarily engaged in selling quick-service or fast-food items, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture; and meet state and local food safety standards applicable to grocery stores or supermarkets; (2) limits benefit redemption to meals from such sections that are intended for immediate consumption and contain at least one fruit or vegetable and one protein, as defined by the Secretary; (3) eliminates the need for separate program authorization for stores already approved under SNAP section 9 and directs the Secretary to ensure electronic benefit transfer (EBT) systems restrict redemptions to eligible households; (4) excludes spouses of SNAP-eligible individuals from program participation; and (5) requires the Secretary to submit to the Senate, and make publicly available, annual reports detailing participating establishments (including names, locations, and benefits redeemed), participant numbers, program costs, and effectiveness.