<enum>I</enum><header>IMPROVING BENEFIT ADEQUACY</header> <section id="H9C174F1BF4604B628E54C1002930EA5"><enum>101.</enum><header>Adjusting benefits to respond to food inflation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3(o) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2012">7 U.S.C. 2012(o)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H886CA298B95049AEAE00A57DDF99D122"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (3) by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H52B74C1F5B0943DDB50950E5C479E623"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4716C368A0944DAD815B2C9FF0E8567F" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="HCB48C310E874435C8092A2A7C890755"><enum>(4)</enum><text>on October 1, 2007, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect 101.5 percent of the cost of the diet in the preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower dollar increment for each household size, except that the Secretary may not reduce the cost of the diet in effect on September 30, 2007;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HBC01DC8BC69F44DFBC844171F879729D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>on October 1, 2008 and October 1, 2009, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect 102 percent of the cost of the diet in the preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower dollar increment for each household size, except that the Secretary may not reduce the cost of the diet in effect during the immediately preceding fiscal year;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HB1997ECD2A2144D995694B3BAD33886E"><enum>(6)</enum><text>on October 1, 2010, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect 102.5 percent of the cost of the diet in the preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower dollar increment for each household size, except that the Secretary may not reduce the cost of the diet in effect on September 30, 2010; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H0E1397E83D8C4128B5104C0624FEBBE5"><enum>(7)</enum><text>on October 1, 2011, and each October 1 thereafter, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect 103 percent of the cost of the diet in the preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower dollar increment for each household size, except that the Secretary may not reduce the cost of the diet in effect during the immediately preceding fiscal year.</text> </paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="HE74236D5DDDE4F7799D1E515F3FF6B46"><enum>102.</enum><header>Strengthening the food purchasing power of low-income Americans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5(e)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H586E67B06518495D959F8FA2CB58646D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking <quote>not less than $134</quote> and all that follows to the end of the clause and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H8BC6D52DDAC5429BA253B59E7BD75E3" style="OLC"> <text>not less than—</text><subclause id="H13989F3D791F4E70B3BF56C45640308"><enum>(I)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2008, $150, $256, $212, and $132, respectively;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H2D37CE42B58946ED8BEC4DEC6060A3AD"><enum>(II)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2009, $170, $291, $240, and $150, respectively;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H974659596DEE49A8A28B3571DFB53DB3"><enum>(III)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2010, $180, $308, $254, and $159, respectively;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H2B24CB3E460B4CA0AA6C4523C838ADFC"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2011, $201, $344, $284, and $177, respectively; and</text> </subclause><subclause id="H466ED902D11545D3B5F5D424F1239654"><enum>(V)</enum><text>for each fiscal year thereafter, an amount that is equal to the amount from the previous fiscal year adjusted to the nearest lower dollar increment to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for items other than food, for the twelve months ending the preceding June 30.</text> </subclause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="H5871A470FDB54E8CA547B3493E59901E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B)(ii) by striking <quote>not less than $269.</quote> and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H213D68CC46F74A84A05D372200E96B12" style="OLC"> <text>not less than—</text><subclause id="HFE389B4461844CE2915854F2CD900075"><enum>(I)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2008, $301;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H339BCE2DD83548E19CEBCAAD86D5F31F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2009, $341;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H339761CB5FB047FD87DCA712ABA18444"><enum>(III)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2010, $361;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H547E2EC9E034411AA59E41B3865987DB"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2011, $404; and</text> </subclause><subclause id="H1B945C80895F43D4B522A2EED4A6CA28"><enum>(V)</enum><text>for each fiscal year thereafter, an amount that is equal to the amount from the previous fiscal year adjusted to the nearest lower dollar increment to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for items other than food, for the twelve months ending the preceding June 30.</text> </subclause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="HF8E29C3819AA4E6CB13B9DC4153FAA7"><enum>103.</enum><header>Supporting working families with child care expenses</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5(e)(3)(A) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(3)(A)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>, the maximum allowable level of which shall be $200 per month for each dependent child under 2 years of age and $175 per month for each other dependent,</quote>.</text> </section><section id="H10DC08555E8F4DCA86E72E59A8AAA9B9"><enum>104.</enum><header>Exclusion of combat-related military pay from countable income</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5(d) of the Food Stamp Act of 2007 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(d)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H8563B77BB9074DC58763CF1B8351C448"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and (18)</quote> and inserting <quote>(18)</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HD10E9933CDD64FD2A14680B5686FF8B5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting before the period at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAC86248DE52A4DFF99DA6F243770D91D" style="OLC"> <quoted-block-continuation-text quoted-block-continuation-text-level="paragraph">, and (19) any additional payment received under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/37/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 37, United States Code, by a member of the United States Armed Forces deployed to a designated combat zone for the duration of the member’s deployment if the additional pay is the result of deployment to or while serving in a combat zone, and it was not received immediately prior to serving in the combat zone</quoted-block-continuation-text><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="HE7497D3A459A4883BF857695B6729E46"><enum>105.</enum><header>Increasing the minimum benefit</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2017">7 U.S.C. 2017(a)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>$10 per month.</quote> and inserting <quote>20 percent of the thrifty food plan for a household containing one member, as determined by the Secretary under section 3(o).</quote>.</text> </section>

110 HR 2129 IH: Feeding America’s Families Act of U.S. House of Representatives 2007-05-03 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Feeding America’s Families Act of 2007

<enum>I</enum><header>IMPROVING BENEFIT ADEQUACY</header> <section id="H9C174F1BF4604B628E54C1002930EA5"><enum>101.</enum><header>Adjusting benefits to respond to food inflation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3(o) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2012">7 U.S.C. 2012(o)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H886CA298B95049AEAE00A57DDF99D122"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (3) by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H52B74C1F5B0943DDB50950E5C479E623"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4716C368A0944DAD815B2C9FF0E8567F" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="HCB48C310E874435C8092A2A7C890755"><enum>(4)</enum><text>on October 1, 2007, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect 101.5 percent of the cost of the diet in the preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower dollar increment for each household size, except that the Secretary may not reduce the cost of the diet in effect on September 30, 2007;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HBC01DC8BC69F44DFBC844171F879729D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>on October 1, 2008 and October 1, 2009, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect 102 percent of the cost of the diet in the preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower dollar increment for each household size, except that the Secretary may not reduce the cost of the diet in effect during the immediately preceding fiscal year;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HB1997ECD2A2144D995694B3BAD33886E"><enum>(6)</enum><text>on October 1, 2010, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect 102.5 percent of the cost of the diet in the preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower dollar increment for each household size, except that the Secretary may not reduce the cost of the diet in effect on September 30, 2010; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H0E1397E83D8C4128B5104C0624FEBBE5"><enum>(7)</enum><text>on October 1, 2011, and each October 1 thereafter, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect 103 percent of the cost of the diet in the preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower dollar increment for each household size, except that the Secretary may not reduce the cost of the diet in effect during the immediately preceding fiscal year.</text> </paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="HE74236D5DDDE4F7799D1E515F3FF6B46"><enum>102.</enum><header>Strengthening the food purchasing power of low-income Americans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5(e)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H586E67B06518495D959F8FA2CB58646D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking <quote>not less than $134</quote> and all that follows to the end of the clause and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H8BC6D52DDAC5429BA253B59E7BD75E3" style="OLC"> <text>not less than—</text><subclause id="H13989F3D791F4E70B3BF56C45640308"><enum>(I)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2008, $150, $256, $212, and $132, respectively;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H2D37CE42B58946ED8BEC4DEC6060A3AD"><enum>(II)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2009, $170, $291, $240, and $150, respectively;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H974659596DEE49A8A28B3571DFB53DB3"><enum>(III)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2010, $180, $308, $254, and $159, respectively;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H2B24CB3E460B4CA0AA6C4523C838ADFC"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2011, $201, $344, $284, and $177, respectively; and</text> </subclause><subclause id="H466ED902D11545D3B5F5D424F1239654"><enum>(V)</enum><text>for each fiscal year thereafter, an amount that is equal to the amount from the previous fiscal year adjusted to the nearest lower dollar increment to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for items other than food, for the twelve months ending the preceding June 30.</text> </subclause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="H5871A470FDB54E8CA547B3493E59901E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B)(ii) by striking <quote>not less than $269.</quote> and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H213D68CC46F74A84A05D372200E96B12" style="OLC"> <text>not less than—</text><subclause id="HFE389B4461844CE2915854F2CD900075"><enum>(I)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2008, $301;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H339BCE2DD83548E19CEBCAAD86D5F31F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2009, $341;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H339761CB5FB047FD87DCA712ABA18444"><enum>(III)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2010, $361;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H547E2EC9E034411AA59E41B3865987DB"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2011, $404; and</text> </subclause><subclause id="H1B945C80895F43D4B522A2EED4A6CA28"><enum>(V)</enum><text>for each fiscal year thereafter, an amount that is equal to the amount from the previous fiscal year adjusted to the nearest lower dollar increment to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for items other than food, for the twelve months ending the preceding June 30.</text> </subclause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="HF8E29C3819AA4E6CB13B9DC4153FAA7"><enum>103.</enum><header>Supporting working families with child care expenses</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5(e)(3)(A) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(3)(A)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>, the maximum allowable level of which shall be $200 per month for each dependent child under 2 years of age and $175 per month for each other dependent,</quote>.</text> </section><section id="H10DC08555E8F4DCA86E72E59A8AAA9B9"><enum>104.</enum><header>Exclusion of combat-related military pay from countable income</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5(d) of the Food Stamp Act of 2007 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(d)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H8563B77BB9074DC58763CF1B8351C448"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and (18)</quote> and inserting <quote>(18)</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HD10E9933CDD64FD2A14680B5686FF8B5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting before the period at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAC86248DE52A4DFF99DA6F243770D91D" style="OLC"> <quoted-block-continuation-text quoted-block-continuation-text-level="paragraph">, and (19) any additional payment received under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/37/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 37, United States Code, by a member of the United States Armed Forces deployed to a designated combat zone for the duration of the member’s deployment if the additional pay is the result of deployment to or while serving in a combat zone, and it was not received immediately prior to serving in the combat zone</quoted-block-continuation-text><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="HE7497D3A459A4883BF857695B6729E46"><enum>105.</enum><header>Increasing the minimum benefit</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2017">7 U.S.C. 2017(a)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>$10 per month.</quote> and inserting <quote>20 percent of the thrifty food plan for a household containing one member, as determined by the Secretary under section 3(o).</quote>.</text> </section><enum>II</enum><header>IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY AND SIMPLIFYING PROGRAM OPERATIONS</header> <section id="HBD610AF64D2D43688EF861DBCABACED9"><enum>201.</enum><header>Allowable countable resources</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5(g) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(g)</external-xref>) is amended —</text> <paragraph id="H5A0EA7D4E1994AF183F099A95757C47"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(g)(1) The Secretary</quote> and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H949B844E9B0742A19800ADEB36E4DBB" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H4873A72160BB44C993708D2D80D8E841"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Allowable Financial Resources</header> <paragraph id="HB10F7DE43C9F4FC19187029F8405645E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Total amount</header> <subparagraph id="H62E6693893304D70A39823D8D7F5CA5B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="HA3FAEA7857BF4A7D9EF3F4AC406891F8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (g)(1)(A) (as designated by paragraph (1)—</text> <subparagraph id="HD873CB820BC1435094849FE0ADDBFD5B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>$2,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$3,700 (as adjusted in accordance with subparagraph (B))</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE6EDA4A6E0FB43578F01ED873AC811"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>$3,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$5,500 (as adjusted in accordance with subparagraph (B)),</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H50918286ACC349C5BA0047C1AFE1342"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (g)(1) by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H7FC41844FBD64DF5A7001C83C201C378" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="H57137B5CE7C7435D82223C00B520D475"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Adjustment for inflation</header> <clause id="H1F9EF128ADDC478BB37C9BBCFBC124F2"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Beginning on October 1, 2008, and each October 1 thereafter, the amounts in subparagraph (A) shall be adjusted to the nearest $100 increment to reflect changes for the 12-month period ending the preceding June in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.</text> </clause><clause id="H7AC20F34B39D4A9A85A4E44535997100"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>Each adjustment under clause (i) shall be based on the unrounded amount for the prior 12-month period.</text> </clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="H6E1F38D650FD467D9DBF00C757F59000"><enum>202.</enum><header>Exclusion of retirement accounts from countable financial resources</header> <subsection id="H3493138D95A94063ABB986EEA9531D6C"><enum>(a)</enum><text>Section 5(g)(2)(B)(v) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(g)(2)(B)(v)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>or retirement account (including an individual account)</quote> and inserting <quote>account</quote>.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HFF2B073950DE4FEABE27C63CFA30DB7C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mandatory and discretionary exclusions</header><text>Section 5(g) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(g)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H130AC1EFC353424AA23F93AEA5BDB700" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="HDE1EC304910D43E7A412641E80E873B0"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Exclusion of retirement accounts from countable financial resources</header> <subparagraph id="H770A290871D047D3A59441F617BBC1D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Mandatory exclusions</header><text>The Secretary shall exclude from financial resources under this subsection the value of any funds in a plan, contract, or account, described in sections 401(a), 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408A, 457(b), and 501(c)(18) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the value of funds in a Federal Thrift Savings Plan account as provided in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/8439">section 8439</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC5750C61A5044D72BD6839BB6ED39DA7"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Discretionary exclusions</header><text>The Secretary may exclude from financial resources under this subsection the value of any other retirement plans, contracts, or accounts (as determined by the Secretary through regulation).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection></section><section id="HB6E83CEBF77040FCB0EF8B2B6F87DCF"><enum>203.</enum><header>Exclusion of education accounts from countable financial resources</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5(g) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(g)</external-xref> (as amended by section 202) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HCFD360B7ECB64AA9AFF75615C644CED0" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="HDDA9D6887E9E4D949D1B82FF929F5118"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Exclusion of education accounts from countable financial resources</header> <subparagraph id="H90E56397C5DC4D198F55C603CB5B7089"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Mandatory exclusions</header><text>The Secretary shall exclude from financial resources under this subsection the value of any funds in a qualified tuition program described in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/529">section 529</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or in a Coverdell education savings account under section 530 of that Code.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H41AF9CF14857418B00DD21A93EDDB4C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Discretional exclusions</header><text>The Secretary may exclude from financial resources under this subsection the value of any other education programs, contracts, or accounts (as determined by the Secretary through regulation).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section id="HE357D15FC6344B8B95AC2687ACCEF4C4"><enum>204.</enum><header>Simplifying work requirement</header> <subsection id="H3C894E5A71164FB5AC163300F3AB9F17"><enum>(a)</enum><text>Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2015">7 U.S.C. 2015</external-xref>) is amended by striking subsection (o).</text> </subsection><subsection id="H73E92E7CEA234035A26E976FB8692689"><enum>(b)</enum><text>Section 16(h)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2025">7 U.S.C. 2025(h)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H7FDFDB68C8D3416B89075C47CB23D451"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)—</text> <subparagraph id="HCE8415B6D61E4E079842BB41DA2CA00"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in clause (vi)(II) by striking <quote>and</quote>;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H869F3615A1B644C8A6A91E63D0EBFB01"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (vii) by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5F67D5A0C0AD479FA37B46B754E7E64B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HA9A5540B1B364C13AD82787C9F4F8CD9" style="OLC"> <clause id="HB20DBD0D6C0F4BF89700E800ABC2DB58"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012, $110,000,000.</text> </clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H48B7DDF2A83348D08FDF399D99C5EF17"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking subparagraph (E).</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HE51B832543644DCD9E8DF9C8F56F30F7"><enum>205.</enum><header>Fairness for legal immigrants</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding sections 401(a), 402(a), and 403(a) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation At of 1996 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/8/1611">8 U.S.C. 1611(a)</external-xref>, 1612(a), 1613(a)) and section 6(f) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.A. 2015(f)), persons who are lawfully residing in the United States shall be not be ineligible for food stamps on the basis of their immigration status or date of entry into the United States.</text> </section><section id="H18381EDD66DF44F29D96BBF65C2487C5"><enum>206.</enum><header>Clarifying eligibility</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 421 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation At of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1631(d)(3)) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HA5355F516B174F188202B931719B7EC6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>to the extent that a qualified alien is eligible under section 1612(a)(2)(J) of this title.</quote> and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H179D07DA699A483F9838B9030579B1E0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>inserting, <quote>to the extent that a child is a member of the food stamp household.</quote>.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="H9BF11D3B17B543C69E65AC22E3459633"><enum>207.</enum><header>Ensuring proper screening</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 11(e)(2)(B) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2020">7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(2)(B)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H292B63C7B0B34A308B005DDC13DA864E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting after clause (v):</text> <quoted-block id="H83A8C56613EC4ACF9F88D9037ECB46B2" style="OLC"> <clause id="H9D736B1DE6504E0CA67F769B8FAE9210"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>shall provide a method for implementing 8 U.S.C. 1631 that does not require any unnecessary information from persons who may be exempt from that provision;</text> </clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE9ED9297486744C59E03334F945BFC92"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating clauses (vi) and (vii) as clauses (vii) and (viii).</text> </paragraph></section><section id="HF2144F3A63B149ED00A2AF16F9583BDF"><enum>208.</enum><header>Clarification of simplified administrative reporting requirement</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 11(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2020">7 U.S.C. 2020(a)</external-xref>) is amended by adding the following at the end: <quote>The administrative reporting requirement under 8 U.S.C. 1631(e)(2) shall be satisfied by the submission of an aggregate report on the numbers of such exceptions granted each year.</quote>.</text> </section><section id="H571AF0EF85C84767B55DB8CABF78426F"><enum>209.</enum><header>State option to provide food assistance to foster community reintegration</header> <subsection id="H0AF566E305554CB6B0AF83A895B8EFFF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2015">7 U.S.C. 2015</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H245B9C095D51475F87AD1856E916E46D" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H6ED06CF70C734B13A00502484B19A582"><enum>(p)</enum><header>State option To provide food assistance To foster community reintegration</header> <paragraph id="HB31A4429FA6044FEB0290017345584F3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding section 115 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (21 U.S.C. 862a), except as provided in paragraph (2), section 115 of that Act shall not apply in the case of benefits under the food stamp program or any State program carried out under this Act.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HFBAA791E6084416494A7B0A93F42EBF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prohibition on receiving food stamp benefits</header><text>In the case of benefits under the food stamp program or any State program carried out under this Act:</text> <subparagraph id="H7ECFDF3478394588B989CB3B68124F77"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A State may, by specific reference in a law enacted on or after the enactment date of this subsection, elect to apply section 115 of that Act to any or all individuals domiciled in a State, effective beginning on the date of enactment of that law. Section 115 of that Act shall apply to any or all individuals domiciled in the State in accordance with that law.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H249C0B208D654995BC3FC51363894318"><enum>(B)</enum><text>If, prior to enactment of this subsection, a State exempted any or all individuals domiciled in the State from the application of section 115(a) by specific reference in a law in accordance with section 115(d)(1) of that Act, the State may continue to apply section 115 of that Act in accordance with that law.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="HAACF910F38C14BC786C0205D8CB50042"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendment made by subsection (a) takes effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>CONNECTING ELIGIBLE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO FOOD STAMPS</header> <section id="HC46FF822EAB34412BA37860302FCDE15"><enum>301.</enum><header>Facilitating simplified reporting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 6(c) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2015">7 U.S.C. 2015(c)(1)(A)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HCDA215DC95EE435BADC570B286AE9679"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A), by—</text> <subparagraph id="H75B7CE804B5E49AC9D888E46A12139C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>striking <quote>reporting by</quote> and inserting <quote>reporting</quote>;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC481959D552D487600DDDE07023E3381"><enum>(B)</enum><text>inserting <quote>for periods shorter than four months by</quote> after the clause designations in clauses (i) and (ii); and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB9C637959E1C4C2BAF23D89FE25952EA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>inserting <quote>by</quote> after the clause designation in clause (iii);</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1F8D2D10A8274309B22D8E00B3D43E00"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by—</text> <subparagraph id="H1C16BDAD1DFB4CCAB791007B008C3E00"><enum>(A)</enum><text>striking <quote>Reports required to be filed monthly under paragraph (1)</quote> and inserting <quote>Except as provided in paragraph (1)(D)(ii), periodic reports filed under paragraph (1)</quote>;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2A4DAD72DC3C4C89BC78D63690E5F55F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>striking <quote>required to be filed monthly</quote>;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1F6146B9D17A4F2BA5AC37AA33684DE2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>striking <quote>subject matter included in such reports</quote> and inserting <quote>such households</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF08430003B1D4132A4784B8952FFDB39"><enum>(D)</enum><text>inserting after the third sentence:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9FA6ECFB0861437692F7DEBD8493670" style="OLC"> <quoted-block-continuation-text quoted-block-continuation-text-level="paragraph">The State agency shall not be required to act on information about such household received from any source between such periodic reports unless the information clearly indicates that the household is not eligible, subject to standards established by the Secretary, or the household requests an increase in benefits.</quoted-block-continuation-text><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="HCF9F745604E349DDA3C5F4E1F178C5E"><enum>302.</enum><header>Access to benefits</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2016">7 U.S.C. 2016</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H453AFF4CA38E47958014080336494937" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H897B4CAA11CE4795B2C22CD0A5000025"><enum>(k)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No State agency shall establish any additional requirements or conditions on households to receive benefits other than the requirements or conditions specified in this section.</text> </subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section id="H85F30A06907B404A89696D20ED9C062D"><enum>303.</enum><header>Accountable Program Administration</header> <subsection id="HCBEFD511612C45EA937FEBB33DDEF031"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text>Section 11(e)(6)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Assistance Act of 2007 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(6)(B)) is amended to read:</text> <quoted-block id="H03EE0D9FDB9143D89345C4722F703DDC" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="H8B034FDC7FCA4137A0C2A12C9E09F88E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>only State employees employed in accordance with the current standards for a Merit System of Personnel Administration, or any standards later prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management pursuant to section 208 of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4728">42 U.S.C. 4728</external-xref>) modifying or superseding such standards relating to the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards on a merit basis, shall—</text> <clause id="H512058A719914267978B9D0530B946A2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>represent the State agency in any communications with a prospective applicant, applicant, or recipient household;</text> </clause><clause id="H956B36C449B5450C99568911AEFBC5C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>participate in making any determinations relating to a household’s substantive or procedural compliance with the requirements of this Act or implementing regulations, including the adequacy of the household’s application or of verification or other information the household has submitted in support of that application; or</text> </clause><clause id="HAA83F572652B49319E3BF0FF4819E66E"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>perform any other acts or participate in making any other determinations required under this subsection;</text> </clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="H5757D89DACD54EB18068FB3DE86490EA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Waivers</header><text>Section 17(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III)(ff) of the Food and Nutrition Assistance Act of 2007 (7 U.S.C. 2026(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III)(ff)) is amended in inserting <quote>or 11(e)(6)(B)</quote> before the semicolon.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HDCA7AEFDAF8F44D7B6AD07DED494128"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Projects</header><text>Section 26(f)(3)(E) of the Food and Nutrition Assistance Act of 2007 (7 U.S.C. 2035(f)(3)(E)) is amended in inserting <quote>(6)(B)</quote> after <quote>paragraphs</quote>.</text> </subsection></section><section id="HBDE4AD1A0AFA45E8A44968859E5C8641"><enum>304.</enum><header>Reauthorization of food stamp program and food distribution program on Indian reservations</header> <subsection id="HDF44E3074B07459195E2B05D1D14F6C1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Reductions in payments for administrative costs</header><text>Section 16(k)(3) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2025">7 U.S.C. 2025(k)(3)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HDC91631EFB9C4E62BF5EA9FB70C1B806"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first sentence of subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>2007</quote> and inserting <quote>2012</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H61AF6E06583C4BC8B0363886B0171783"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B)(ii) by striking <quote>2007</quote> and inserting <quote>2012</quote>.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5B12A563BBEC400EB65FD2A84BD922E2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Cash payment pilot projects</header><text>Section 17(b)(1)(B)(vi) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2026(b)(1)(B(vi)) is amended by striking <quote>2007</quote> and inserting <quote>2012</quote>.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H2B0EF899D4B947F7AE75FB652165A3DE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>Section 18(a)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2027(a)(1)) is amended in the first sentence by striking <quote>2003 through 2007</quote> and inserting <quote>2008 through 2012</quote>.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HD47F06A3BEE44FB882B983CBE6014436"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Consolidated block grants for puerto rico and american samoa</header><text>Section 19(a)(2) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2028">7 U.S.C. 2028(a)(2)</external-xref>) is amended in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking <quote>2007</quote> and inserting <quote>2012</quote>.</text> </subsection></section><section id="HAE6D54A1C688452093A120B5954EF25B"><enum>305.</enum><header>Preventing conflicts of interest</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 16(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2025">7 U.S.C. 2025(a)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>directly or indirectly</quote> before <quote>receive or benefit</quote> in the final sentence.</text> </section><section id="H8D27470D85EC439100176459813E3039"><enum>306.</enum><header>Limitation on contracting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 16(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2025">7 U.S.C. 2025(a)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting at the end: <quote>The Secretary shall not make any payments for administrative costs under this or any other section of law relating to a contract that a State agency concluded in violation of this Act or the Secretary’s regulations, whether or not the Secretary may approve the contract subsequent to its letting, or for any personnel costs to carry out functions specified under section 11(e)(3) except by persons described under section 11(e)(6)(B).</quote>.</text> </section><section id="HD275097B04754DDC8883D25E438991D0"><enum>307.</enum><header>Outreach grants</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 11(t)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 2007 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2020">7 U.S.C. 2020(t)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>For each of fiscal years</quote> and all that follows through <quote>$5,000,000</quote> and inserting <quote>For each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012, the Secretary shall use not more than $45,000,000</quote>.</text> </section><section id="H199B0F86C17D45A6A485E5D35ED87418"><enum>308.</enum><header>Funds to States for improving and innovating program access and integrity</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 2007 (7 U.S.C. 2025), as amended by section 304, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H7ABBCD70C6154074828CC7AEAE8C4BF9"> <subsection id="HE34140397CE44022B0845FC0B87F41F3"><enum>(m)</enum><header>Funds to States for improving and innovating program access and integrity</header> <paragraph id="HF6270E4CF5B2494CAB5C837F00AF00F5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary shall provide that with respect to administrative expenditures described in paragraph (2) the percent specified in (a) shall be increased to such percentage as the Secretary specifies.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H31448FBCBAF744B8B856B3E9AEAC999B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administrative expenditures described</header><text>The administrative expenditures described in this paragraph are expenditures described in (a) that a State demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary are attributable to a program innovation that—</text> <subparagraph id="H0F18921548B443978125F71003B45212"><enum>(A)</enum><text>improves access to the food stamp program;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H29B202238D2A41C4AC52F782AF07E113"><enum>(B)</enum><text>improves the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCF43D55DFC80410480674971EFB7F747"><enum>(C)</enum><text>improves program integrity.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H87A081D3946749F4B6002FBA67211C0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Limitations</header><text>The total amount of additional Federal funds that are made available under this subsection shall not exceed $80,000,000 in each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012. In applying this paragraph, the Secretary shall use discretion in determining the State innovations that have the greatest likelihood of meeting the goals described in paragraph (2). The Secretary shall only make funds available under paragraph (2) that will result in new activities or operations.</text> </paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section id="HA9D426995F494BE8A3FCDCA9CEFF7B2B"><enum>309.</enum><header>Improving program operations and program effectiveness</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 17 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2026) is amended by adding at the end—</text> <quoted-block id="H7264581569724D05AF265BB24E136C2F"> <subsection id="H65600E0B97744104A733DBCB4568CF1C"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Research To improve program operation effectiveness</header> <paragraph id="HB20DEEA937504C07A5BCF0D07200698B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>For each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2010, the Secretary shall use no less than $9,000,000 of funds made available under section 18(a)(1) to conduct research and demonstration projects in support of this Act.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H2C37F844882F48198CB8001C681C1FE9"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Of the funds provided in paragraph (1), no less than $4,000,000 in each fiscal year shall be used to conduct research and studies on how to improve the effectiveness of food stamp program operations by increasing access for eligible households, reducing State agency and household administrative burdens, and improving program integrity. Such studies may evaluate the most effective—</text> <subparagraph id="H07763698F79845869000CFE728EEB896"><enum>(A)</enum><text>use of verification;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD79304685E9F47F08952B020C9EDF443"><enum>(B)</enum><text>telephonic and internet applications;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2AA0CDEF25F14332A8801F004559172E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>call centers;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAF807E0696AF4DA09D3FF3D13FBE6DA8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>efforts to retain eligible households at recertification; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H854E8BB2E4C94A34BA582C35FAB06B6E"><enum>(E)</enum><text>methods of providing food stamp benefits to working households, seniors, legal immigrants, and households with limited English proficient households, particularly in areas and States that have experienced rapid growth in their non-English speaking populations.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section id="H85261184591641BE912471F2E83D19B6"><enum>310.</enum><header>Improving performance bonuses for States</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 16(d)(2)(B)(ii) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2025">7 U.S.C. 2025(d)</external-xref>) is amended by—</text> <paragraph id="HF94BB04735454A2E9FBC4B74161E960"><enum>(1)</enum><text>inserting <quote>through fiscal year 2007</quote> after <quote>each fiscal year</quote>;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE0527CA865924F7788E365F6CD89B2F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>inserting at the end <quote>For fiscal years 2008 and thereafter, $68 million shall be available under this clause for performance bonus payments.</quote>.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="H123A531B6639468DB6111C3F502B808F"><enum>311.</enum><header>Supporting State efforts during natural disasters</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5(h) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(h)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H83EE71177A064BE7A829CAC0B2388D09" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="HF899A40E7AFE4F329F9CC7F28B3D01C8" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>In lieu of the payments section 16(a) would otherwise require, the Secretary shall pay each State agency an amount equal to 90 percent of administrative costs allowable under section 16(a) for costs related to planning and operating disaster food stamp programs under this subsection.</text> </paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section id="H18B0AB074B9B4B53B0AA356F073FFA75"><enum>312.</enum><header>Expanding the use of food stamps at farmers’ markets</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 25 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2034) is amended by adding at the end:</text> <quoted-block id="HDA696D21C7B2487AA8ABDE50F2220000"> <subsection id="H69543DEAAD6F40609C7071ABE4208BF7"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Grants To expand the number of farmers’ markets that accept food stamp benefits</header> <paragraph id="HE3ED643167CA4CE88F14EB23F389A8C9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2010, the Secretary shall use not more than $5 million of funds made available under section 18(a)(1) to make grants to pay 100 percent of the costs of eligible entities approved by the Secretary to carry out projects to expand the number of farmers’ markets that accept food stamp benefits by—</text> <subparagraph id="H1B67640DDA894371B86DAABE708BE718"><enum>(A)</enum><text>providing equipment and training necessary for markets to accept food stamp benefits;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H470FFA1E5F8A4657B79F84D7302944BD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>educating and providing technical assistance to farmers and farmers’ market operators about the process and benefits of accepting food stamp benefits; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDA8651EBBE9E4829872F2F2529801C89"><enum>(C)</enum><text>other activities deemed appropriate by the Secretary.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H61E0D31FFFCF4BB6A3A6119BDC88F45F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>A grant made under this subsection shall not be made for the cost of the on-going cost of carrying out any project.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF6733C1F256D47C59CAAD8F3532C7F82"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Eligible entities</header><text>To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall be—</text> <subparagraph id="H1653E8A288A74BB192CA21E5AE41BAE8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a State agency administering the Food Stamp Program;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H67532F10DF264DD9992524FDB73949A3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a State or local government; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H35C3340391FF4E22A22394CEC9F3F3B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a private nonprofit entity that coordinates farmers’ markets in or within a State and that operates in cooperation with State or local government.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA1E7D668CF6C45E4AB41F49D45905D00"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Selection of eligible entities</header><text>The Secretary—</text> <subparagraph id="H075F3719FBC44B6285D52D0000A3A814"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall develop criteria for the selection of eligible entities to receive grants under this subsection; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9B64BDC24B7544098CCBCDDE4F1537EE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may give preference to any eligible entity that consists of a partnership between a government entity and a nongovernmental entity.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><enum>IV</enum><header>SUPPORTING THE EMERGENCY FOOD BANK NETWORK AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS</header> <section id="HB08075297FB54BEB9697639DBABF898B"><enum>401.</enum><header>Assistance for community food projects</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 25(b)(2) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2034">7 U.S.C. 2034(b)(2)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HE8BBA86319D14A09A4A266BC6B549BE9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A) by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H0A78DA47A35E4505ACA4478C9F20DA89"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H1D88CD7C7E054B4B984F60B6007CFA88"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting at the end:</text> <quoted-block id="H74148509CB794016AF2076E0F5C14FB0" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="HF71B8357D5ED4DA4A11F57193E69F2A9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012, the amount available in the immediately preceding fiscal year adjusted to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the twelve months ending the preceding June 30.</text> </subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section><section id="H3895208248C440C1BDD154452DD474BD"><enum>402.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations for additional commodities under the Food Stamp Act</header> <subsection id="H292C0E986E514125B343A6F4004382FB"><enum>(a)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 27(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2011">7 U.S.C. 2011–2036a</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text> <paragraph id="H91D0D5CC546544668E17F5A5A908723D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(a) <header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Purchase of Commodities.—</header-in-text></quote> and all that follows through <quote>2007</quote> and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H180B6EEA3C91466CAE99B8E22E06ADD1" style="OLC"> <subsection id="HBFE8A4F0B2654CBD81DEE8C90039A45B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Purchase of commodities</header> <paragraph id="H62589FB9BB034A06990687BB00BCBCD4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>As provided in paragraph (2), for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012</text> </paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC8E4264580024169887EADAB09E952AE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>$140,000,000 of</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H9FDFAABCED2F4A00A98410CCBD4027CD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting at the end:</text> <quoted-block id="H80D4498CCBA04C27AD6547D7371E001D" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H70ED73249B08442B9FFADB2C348BBD4F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Amounts</header><text>The following amounts are made available to carry out this subsection:</text> <subparagraph id="H44FAEE228E714AB699504EE5C2894EDE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2008, $250,000,000;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA7DDE877DC174823ADE700D0C8DAA570"><enum>(B)</enum><text>for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2012, the dollar amount of commodities available in the immediately preceding fiscal year adjusted by the percentage by which the thrifty food plan has been adjusted under section 3(o)(4) between June 30, 2007 and June 30 of the immediately preceding fiscal year.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H819B52FE3E774A25BD64AF66452DE76"><enum>(b)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 204(a) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/612C">7 U.S.C. 612C</external-xref> note) is amended in subparagraph (1) by striking <quote>$60,000,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$100,000,000.</quote>.</text> </subsection></section><section id="HFEF958FE5838465FB134B64ED4F76DBF"><enum>403.</enum><header>Community food assistance and food bank infrastructure grants under the food stamp act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Food Stamp Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2011">7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HF18D94CFF51542D9BE00004D001E67F9"> <section id="HE10C5D1DEE2B474C8DE8697729265E80"><enum>28.</enum><header>Community food assistance and food bank infrastructure competitive grants</header> <subsection id="H6EC94015D6E4476AB19416C68EC60736"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of eligible entity</header><text>In this section, the term eligible entity means an emergency feeding organization (as defined in Section 201A(4) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7501">7 U.S.C. 7501(4)</external-xref>)).</text> </subsection><subsection id="H1DF764899A3046E3B0D00D6A5C713D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Program authorized</header> <paragraph id="H87AF53E5A4514B9CB8BFE6748658C1EB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>From amounts made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall make available not less than $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and for the each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2012, the amount available in the immediately preceding fiscal year adjusted to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the twelve months ending the preceding June 30 for the purposes of making grants to eligible entities to support the work of food banks and similar nonprofit emergency feeding organizations.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6C5851082F0A4AA9AA1F53CAEB00E322"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application</header> <paragraph id="HFDCD9AF73F4A4CBC80D9D3F42F43FEC2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>To receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at the time and manner and accompanied by any information the Secretary may require.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF08BB9BB2F2C47A4A502CDA184DD714"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall—</text> <subparagraph id="HE12114C0E7F7457693F3C7FC79F48445"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identify the activity described in subsection (d) that the grant will be used to fund; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAA25C5928A344FD488D43025AB88744"><enum>(B)</enum><text>describe the means by which an activity identified under subparagraph (A) will reduce hunger in the community or support the efforts of food banks or other nonprofit emergency feeding organizations as defined in Section (a) to reduce hunger or food insecurity in their communities.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H265E08ECE913427E99C4B75B81F3CF00"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities the applications of which demonstrate two of the following criteria:</text> <subparagraph id="H1AD4237D077E42CDB11E00864E2661B1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The eligible entity serves a predominantly rural and geographically underserved area.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5687939B4D5C4D3687086F205D8000E2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The eligible entity serves a community in which the rates of food insecurity, very low food insecurity, hunger, poverty, or unemployment are demonstrably higher than national average rates.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1F89A80A136A4B3D9555A121D5E3EE63"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The eligible entity serves a community that provides demonstrable public support for the efforts of the eligible entity through the direct provision of private sector food assistance to low-income individuals.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H15154E7E25A84973A3328E40B228BE1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The eligible entity can show that the grant will assist in the support of rural communities, small or mid-size farms, and the consumption of locally produced agricultural products by low-income people in need of temporary food assistance.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB88836CFEB0E472CAC2700F4C7DF4F5E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>An eligible entity shall use a grant received under this section for fiscal year to carry out activities of the eligible entity, including—</text> <paragraph id="H9CEF32CC1C974604AA7D797C8F5CACBB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>constructing, expanding, or repairing a facility or equipment to support hunger relief agencies in the community;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H2E4E90DB1B2B428585DCBE85E552ED2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>assisting an emergency feeding organization in the community in obtaining locally-grown or raised produce, dairy or protein products; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H061A92DD50DA40C4A95ED1C79D182161"><enum>(3)</enum><text>assisting an emergency feeding organization in the community for the procurement, storage, handling and distribution of locally produced agricultural products.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H021E0FA879F641ED9BA124CD93E48CA7"><enum>404.</enum><header>Food for the hungry transportation grant program</header> <subsection id="HACADED0FCE9A48C295A9C291D623A54E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>The purposes of this section are—</text> <paragraph id="H8A05C89006A544EEA9B9507CAB309B95"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to authorize the creation of the National Food for the Hungry Transportation, Self-Help, and Job Training Fund to facilitate the procurement and transportation of highly perishable, healthy food to low-income individuals in the United States;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H2C07A71BFC73419AB95043B8A0E6E373"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to establish a competitive mechanism in the Department of Agriculture by which appropriations made available from the Fund would be allocated;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H83EE0107E67F4CBCA65C8C55CBB8E633"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to ensure the direct involvement of the private carrier trucking fleet of the United States in carrying out this section;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H6245EC3ECC544087B14F671254CC42A3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to increase the quantity of nutritious food available to low-income individuals in the United States by supporting the procurement and distribution of highly perishable food, such as fresh produce and protein products, to the low-income individuals;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H5CC249578FFF444984EEE54014FF95ED"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to offer job training and employment opportunities in the food transportation and distribution systems;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H969EEEE0FF0C477F8B630064B5BD4EDA"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to better identify potential providers of donated foods and enhance the nonprofit food donation system; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC2EDE27796F143BEB1FBE7128FF5E8A9"><enum>(7)</enum><text>to provide adequate funding to carry out this section.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H54D2B146AF474024AB59972B625E3969"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text> <paragraph id="HD93BC82104AC46989EC36378CA279B04"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Fund</header><text>The term <quote>Fund</quote> means the National Food for the Hungry Transportation, Self-Help, and Job Training Fund established under subsection (c).</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H7DF473EA37D2444ABA8029E4C3C581A5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Nongovernmental organization</header><text>The term <quote>nongovernmental organization</quote> means a national nonprofit charitable organization that—</text> <subparagraph id="HD2D104362D024B77B58C0000CB73BDBD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is described in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/501">section 501(c)(3)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8C7D3287C6844815BA771FA520FF8338"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is capable of, and has at least 10 years experience in, procuring donated food and other services from major domestic food manufacturers and processors, grocery wholesalers and retailers, food warehouse operations, agricultural producer organizations, fishing interests commercial transport providers (such as trucking companies), and Federal and State food assistance agencies;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4272EDFE7D114384B3DFD222C9D0E81B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is capable of, and has shown proficiency in, the national distribution of highly perishable food through contracts with member emergency feeding organizations (as defined in section 201A of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501));</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2FDED05473B54FDB0073839DC1A9524E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>has at least 10 years experience in procuring commercial freight for the distribution of time-sensitive food products through a network of emergency food assistance organizations;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE03E0F62E3FF4EA285ECA159A339006E"><enum>(E)</enum><text>has at least 10 years experience in working with transport providers in creating, coordinating, and maintaining transfer systems designed to assist, at the national level, the delivery of time-sensitive food products, for distribution to emergency food assistance organizations in all 50 States and the District of Columbia;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF6221B218F92408DBA510607A4A75BE8"><enum>(F)</enum><text>does not operate any commercial, private, or public subsidiary trucking or freight operations for the purposes of transporting food; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA03DAD238CF741E18BAC649EFBACFAB"><enum>(G)</enum><text>agrees—</text> <clause id="H286BE7B2DDD442ED91B91ACF6993C4C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to contribute in-kind resources to help carry out this section;</text> </clause><clause id="H6E7B601206FD4EF587F2D62CA7C42EC3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to provide to eligible emergency food assistance organizations services and information free of charge; and</text> </clause><clause id="H7CB327F3806B4F04B91B2F14ACBF8734"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to regularly certify and inspect any member emergency feeding organization with which the nongovernmental organization entered into a contract to carry out an activity described in subparagraph (B).</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC0A0EDB897CC4764A29064D3F400EDEA"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Primary nongovernmental organization</header><text>The term <quote>primary nongovernmental organization</quote> means a nongovernmental organization selected by the Secretary on a competitive basis from among nongovernmental organizations.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H2006FFD0CDC1452B8686A040891B26C0"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <quote>Secretary</quote> means the Secretary of Transportation.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H3900E41E0F0C49EBA3D6C3D00713481B"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Time-sensitive food product</header> <subparagraph id="H953EAF5B19B145E1A9BAD18942472D15"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <quote>time-sensitive food product</quote> means a fresh, raw, or processed food with a short time limitation for safe and acceptable consumption, as determined by the Secretary.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5A65C732709545F38D9360E71137E500"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The term <quote>time-sensitive food product</quote> includes fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, fish, and poultry.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H133D502AA04C4B57BDA3B3F77E08AD85"><enum>(c)</enum><header>National food for the hungry transportation fund</header><text>The Secretary shall offer to enter into a contract or grant agreement with a primary nongovernmental organization to establish the National Food for the Hungry Transportation Fund to track, collect, and deliver time-sensitive food products.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HFEEC4B9D67F44DBABC53F21F451A77E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Program requirements</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that funds made available under this Act are used for</text> <paragraph id="HCDF04F41F79C48D28369ED08376740F8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the development and maintenance of a computerized system for the tracking of time-sensitive food products;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H109B38EB39AA445A938D82799E4646C9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>capital and operating costs associated with the collection and transportation of time-sensitive food products;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HD6ED829FC07C422F915FC66F9C4D515"><enum>(3)</enum><text>capital and operating costs associated with the storage and distribution of time-sensitive food products;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H71A9E17E65604976AE00F23854614390"><enum>(4)</enum><text>job training opportunities in trucking, food handling, food recovery, and related industries;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HF2EEF94B1BF54D27A35970CCDFC3DB50"><enum>(5)</enum><text>improving the security and diversity of the food distribution and recovery systems of the United States with the use of—</text> <subparagraph id="H9E6E656795A64370883FA947138453CF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>family-sized farms; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA56E822987704F0C88422BFDCBC81D34"><enum>(B)</enum><text>donations from entities of food products to persons in need;</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBD9CB57586AC4002B38000629DA34800"><enum>(6)</enum><text>providing recovered healthy foods to non-profit emergency food providers to reduce hunger in the United States; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H299A6B1B08EC46799CACE43A2CDAABB"><enum>(7)</enum><text>improving the identification of—</text> <subparagraph id="HB90758ED6F774E08945714F4D658C607"><enum>(A)</enum><text>potential providers of donated foods;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE0B5DC8F98794600AFDB60591DD2CF3D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>potential nonprofit emergency food providers; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H85CC84F6A11E478BBA608F069B76F77D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>persons in need of emergency food assistance throughout the United States.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H90C93D8E531246038EEFEA5B6CFBEE4F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Additional nongovernmental organizations</header> <paragraph id="H0D49EA3F6A90435887FCD8C00909C79"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The primary nongovernmental organization may enter into one or more contracts with, and provide funds to, not more than two additional nongovernmental organizations that the Secretary determines meet the requirements in paragraph (2) to carry out some of the functions required by this section.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H06F8AA104CBC46E3B358002363AF5A4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>An additional nongovernmental organization selected under paragraph (1) shall—</text> <subparagraph id="HA12BB7F2C3574C0AB200006FABA62386"><enum>(A)</enum><text>have expertise in operating for several years a national information clearinghouse relating to anti-hunger activities;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H47A28F8DBE314DE2814743B7EFF3DD93"><enum>(B)</enum><text>have extensive experience in working with other anti-hunger organizations throughout the United States;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCCF357C185F047F200B722E04C7D97CC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>have significant experience in working with the Department of Agriculture; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H851831CC0A354D9A80C2CFF773B64F99"><enum>(D)</enum><text>operate, at a national level, a hotline to provide information about—</text> <clause id="H26C53103DE024ED1A576C05EDF6397D1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>access to food for low-income families;</text> </clause><clause id="HBEEE42EFF69B49F3B4AADCFF5DEB9700"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>programs in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that transport fresh produce to food pantries, homeless shelters, and soup kitchens that could serve as national models for replication in other areas; and</text> </clause><clause id="H3F17B33D18A149A79106AD4FE6EF5D96"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>ways low-income individuals and families may become self-reliant.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE1EA994A74B0467BB4021D23A153DF77"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Audits</header><text>The Secretary shall establish fair and reasonable procedures to audit the expenditure of funds made available to carry out this section.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H9BBDBD499A4743BF9F95FC82434E004F"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">From funds not otherwise appropriated from the Treasury, $5,000,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for fiscal year 2008 and for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2012, the amount appropriated for the immediately preceding fiscal year adjusted to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the twelve months ending the preceding June 30.</text> </subsection></section><section id="HC3E089734A574188A5E314E98875ED5B"><enum>405.</enum><header>Hunger-free communities collaborative grants</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 25 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2034), as amended by section 312, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H365169A776E04316BCAAADFE8DAF064" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H2D0E758BADF1489E819E4BC21E05CC48"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Hunger-free communities collaborative grants</header> <paragraph id="H85DA17A3AB204F4ABFA87D25A4834E6C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of eligible entity</header><text>In this subsection, the term <quote>eligible entity</quote> means a public food program service provider or a nonprofit organization, including but not limited to an emergency feeding organization, that demonstrates the organization has collaborated, or will collaborate, with 1 or more local partner organizations to reduce hunger in the community.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE84B75EB4B8B49E4B1E2DDCFD00C86D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Program authorized</header> <subparagraph id="HCA368994A48440DDACF1A03639B6E07"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall use not more than 50 percent of any funds made available under this subsection to make grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share of the costs of an activity described in paragraph (3)(A).</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H43B56B951F2C4A1FA62FB60024603149"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Federal share</header><text>The Federal share of the cost of carrying out an activity under this subsection shall not exceed 80 percent.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8E95AF7A34C34D11A5D9D86BC341614"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Non-federal share</header> <clause id="H48A162979ED64412A430B1F92436F1F9"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Calculation</header><text>The non-Federal share of the cost of an activity under this subsection may be provided in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities, equipment, or services.</text> </clause><clause id="HF088590CD5D348ED0089EDB3D9DFDFC4"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Sources</header><text>Any entity may provide the non-Federal share of the cost of an activity under this subsection through a State government, a local government, or a private source.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD05D71E4810645C787D2CB41EC89474"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Application</header> <subparagraph id="H8C5183A2767C43E28D265BB5AE0005EF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>To receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at the time and in the manner and accompanied by any information the Secretary may require.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6E5896FE974C430384204DD7ADE8C79B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that—</text> <clause id="H8484624B8ED849C6A745E4FD75524495"><enum>(i)</enum><text>demonstrate in the application of the eligible entity that the eligible entity makes collaborative efforts to reduce hunger in the community of the eligible entity; and</text> </clause><clause id="H67FC37F851404BED917DF6D3E55346AE"><enum>(ii)</enum><subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H514244B0B95C4FCBAE3F2B63FBC25BD0"><enum>(I)</enum><text>serve a predominantly rural and geographically underserved area;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H99867E291CD046C6A9B3164000BC4F30" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>serve communities in which the rates of food insecurity, hunger, poverty, or unemployment are demonstrably higher than national average rates;</text> </subclause><subclause id="HAF3AEBB85FA844D19DD285A745F7E481" indent="up1"><enum>(III)</enum><text>provide evidence of long-term efforts to reduce hunger in the community; or</text> </subclause><subclause id="H86A86AA433F84DE696C1CB37FECAB03C" indent="up1"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>provide evidence of public support for the efforts of the eligible entity.</text> </subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HEAB5C77CAED04E0789CE589F1459A71F"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>An eligible entity shall use a grant received under this subsection for any fiscal year for activities of the eligible entity, including—</text> <subparagraph id="H785FEE25126C4153AB2143F935322DCE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>meeting the immediate needs of people in the community served by the eligible entity who experience hunger by—</text> <clause id="HA4B167884D2341268D9CE7AB9DA2DCCC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>distributing food;</text> </clause><clause id="H36266C401FB1457DB184F90689BD6FD8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>providing community outreach to connect needy people with nutrition assistance for which they may be eligible; or</text> </clause><clause id="H44701FCA2799465FAF00EAA5A4CCA8D"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>providing nutrition assistance and food distribution as part of comprehensive services;</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC1C23B804AD7453E906791A541223049"><enum>(B)</enum><text>developing new resources and strategies to help reduce hunger in the community;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE8DA519259A247CFA663AB3DEB2DE253"><enum>(C)</enum><text>establishing a program to prevent, monitor, and treat children in the community experiencing hunger or poor nutrition; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H45A1463CA4BE46AD80CA791CF1533D2F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>providing community outreach to foster the involvement of community members and organizations in local efforts that provide nutrition assistance and food distribution;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3EEA2FACBA80407387D2C9E4D2B13CA1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>establishing a program coordinating community-based comprehensive services, including food distribution or nutrition assistance, or adding food distribution or nutrition assistance or existing comprehensive service programs.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5D6267B3866F47CF8F16C39B431BD767"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Amounts</header><text>The following amounts are made available to carry out this subsection:</text> <subparagraph id="HCAE1F8B65D8F4DB9AF6C90B5618D21C9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>For fiscal year 2008, $4,000,000.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA08A01A46DBD4F8E922B72C060C9214F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>For each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2012, the dollar amount of, the amount appropriated to carry out this subsection for the immediately preceding fiscal year adjusted to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the twelve months ending the preceding June 30.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section><section id="H5610E875D90A4F01A66C7B5E002FA740"><enum>406.</enum><header>Reauthorization of the commodity supplemental food program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/612c">7 U.S.C. 612c</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/93/86">Public Law 93–86</external-xref>) is amended in the first sentence by striking <quote>2007 </quote> and inserting <quote>2012</quote>.</text> </section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA4C5B05D589E4B41B1DAC4077D8FBA8E" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>407.</enum><header>Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows and Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows</header> <subsection id="H52A6CC43C60945D39D50A08294959E2B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The <act-name parsable-cite="FSA77">Food Stamp Act of 1977</act-name> (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), as amended by section 403, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2FB0D4B4EAAF454EB0963B90778CE4E7" style="OLC"> <section id="H85381EAE0789475AAE81978C265EF890"><enum>29.</enum><header>Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows and Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows</header> <subsection id="H67AEBA487EB14FF8B60044709DB5EB6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Short title</header><text>This section may be cited as the <quote>Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows and Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program Act of 2007</quote>.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H34F131B504CB41AC9300307417838890"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress finds that—</text> <paragraph id="H946E61D56642410B9F88A449161E2200"><enum>(1)</enum><text>there is a critical need for compassionate individuals who are committed to assisting people who suffer from hunger to initiate and administer solutions to the hunger problem;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE663ED935DB242D899D55C2DEC766C38"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Bill Emerson, the distinguished late Representative from the 8th District of Missouri, demonstrated—</text> <subparagraph id="HC2E7B0E6D3F64D5C8D10332DAF3EEA3B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>his commitment to solving the problem of hunger in a bipartisan manner;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H900A5F6AE3034B98B44C649FD9B8A253"><enum>(B)</enum><text>his commitment to public service; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE0A60755969C437E9F008F8FA1DCB930"><enum>(C)</enum><text>his great affection for the institution and ideals of the United States Congress;</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H214490155BB44C079EE0CD06518FAA7C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>George T. (Mickey) Leland, the distinguished late Representative from the 18th District of Texas, demonstrated—</text> <subparagraph id="HEB8813D1CEE6403EA077019E12084182"><enum>(A)</enum><text>his compassion for those in need;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HED3C7AB47EF64D9FA5A5BEE4DCECF90"><enum>(B)</enum><text>his high regard for public service; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF12EC3397E6B4F8A9FAF68601D497DF4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>his lively exercise of political talents;</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFD1802535EDF4F54909F13DE98BA28F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the special concern that Mr. Emerson and Mr. Leland demonstrated during their lives for the hungry and poor was an inspiration for others to work toward the goals of equality and justice for all;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H55A8ACFAD02F41548C6000B934D7148"><enum>(5)</enum><text>these 2 outstanding leaders maintained a special bond of friendship regardless of political affiliation and worked together to encourage future leaders to recognize and provide service to others; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H7560E44835FB4776956700BB9F7B18F4"><enum>(6)</enum><text>it is especially appropriate to honor the memory of Mr. Emerson and Mr. Leland by creating a fellowship program to develop and train the future leaders of the United States to pursue careers in humanitarian service.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE6FD21B3063A4C0AA6CBA600A7D0AEB9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="H2098A1EF6C4748068FD8547C79B75DB1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Administrator</header><text>The term <term>Administrator</term> means—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" id="H1A00AB5997314A819F2EED694D6151F1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>if the Secretary enters into a contract described in subsection (d)(3), the head of the Congressional Hunger Center; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H7DBEB7DCAF414AE387009E7077F65EEB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>if the Secretary does not enter into such a contract, the Secretary.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB58DCB384DD2400AB5850090A0B482B5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Fellow</header><text>The term <term>fellow</term> means—</text> <subparagraph id="HD81BA2728D1043B1BF744961C4035059"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a Bill Emerson Hunger Fellow; or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF12CD4FA545D4FC8B5BF664D17636687"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Mickey Leland Hunger Fellow</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE88EA967BF66490E9E11ADEA7EF810A2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Fellowship Programs</header><text>The term <term>Fellowship Programs</term> means the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship Program and the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship Program established under subsection (d)(1).</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6374B2676E1945348B99E4AC4A9EC73"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Fellowship programs</header> <paragraph id="H4D04912A69024D09AC8171FEB7FA09F4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is established in the Department of Agriculture the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship Program and the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship Program.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HEF668E1A54AC4DDDB911CB52D3E4DEE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Purposes</header> <subparagraph id="H71799EABF64645FC99F42C8231E24B1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The purposes of the Fellowship Programs are—</text> <clause id="HAF86BE7791F74067B4BF562BCCB763F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to encourage future leaders of the United States—</text> <subclause id="H36786127DBCD40B2829BC007B168234D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>to pursue careers in humanitarian and public service;</text> </subclause><subclause id="HEC564705B27F4B47A2A4A105F437ACCB"><enum>(II)</enum><text>to recognize the needs of low-income people and hungry people;</text> </subclause><subclause id="H910019C85C1644B1961B398885BF9FDC"><enum>(III)</enum><text>to provide assistance to people in need; and</text> </subclause><subclause id="H0E3AC40243BF415D8E6402662D26F5C2"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>to seek public policy solutions to the challenges of hunger and poverty;</text> </subclause></clause><clause id="H515DBB4BDB8F4637AC003EEA40EDABE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to provide training and development opportunities for such leaders through placement in programs operated by appropriate organizations or entities; and</text> </clause><clause id="H361E2B8F6E9244E2995185AC1E3DF6"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to increase awareness of the importance of public service.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H058F2338AA8D4145ADB2723150424E5E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship Program</header><text>The purpose of the Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship Program is to address hunger and poverty in the United States.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5F101D142F98425CAF03EBDE55FE09AE"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship Program</header><text>The purpose of the Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship Program is to address international hunger and other humanitarian needs.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA7B6C4D47A73442185EB3F2DA5FB63F7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Administration</header> <subparagraph id="H2EB3755A6F944A6DAA4D46F933739D31"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall offer to enter into a contract with the Congressional Hunger Center to administer the Fellowship Programs.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H42D4B72F96EA4D5A976C93AA0421122"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>As a condition of a contract described in subparagraph (A), the Congressional Hunger Center shall agree to submit to Congress each year the results of an independent financial audit that demonstrates that the Congressional Hunger Center uses accounting procedures that conform to generally accepted accounting principles and auditing procedures that conform to <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/31/75">chapter 75</external-xref> of title 31, United States Code (commonly known as the <quote>Single Audit Act of 1984</quote>).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB823CD64BE514FA89165E3AA9D1B7F79"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Fellowships</header> <paragraph id="HAE524B5387A24853AE26A633C344E92"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall make available Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowships and Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowships in accordance with this subsection.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H7CEE291F3EC047B3A199BB43EE41E988"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Curriculum</header> <subparagraph id="H442ADC22194A463AB0F68DADA262E5C0"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Fellowship Programs shall provide experience and training to develop the skills necessary to train fellows to carry out the purposes described in subsection (d)(2), including—</text> <clause id="HF2213058C50140B08895B56D78EF5100"><enum>(i)</enum><text>training in direct service programs for the hungry and other anti-hunger programs in conjunction with community-based organizations through a program of field placement; and</text> </clause><clause id="HD326AA9165404F64B48CC330227492F9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>providing experience in policy development through placement in a governmental entity or nongovernmental, nonprofit, or private sector organization.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2D9C3C9C7CFF4C20B71EE84700AFA556"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Work plan</header><text>To carry out subparagraph (A) and assist in the evaluation of the fellowships under paragraph (6), the Administrator shall, for each fellow, approve a work plan that identifies the target objectives for the fellow in the fellowship, including specific duties and responsibilities relating to those objectives.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1D6FB62CA47D4DF584AA7F3F00A960F5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Period of fellowship</header> <subparagraph id="H7EDDE8EA6FCE4CD193D8B4DB2496A091"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Bill Emerson Hunger Fellow</header><text>A Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship awarded under this section shall be for not more than 15 months.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0FD3ADFC140742AEB424719C40C10064"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Mickey Leland Hunger Fellow</header><text>A Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship awarded under this section shall be for not more than 2 years.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE98DC1A43BDE45D288DB00FEE79F1253"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Selection of fellows</header> <subparagraph id="HA1068E3CAD074D8782FE1D163D5F0600"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Fellowships shall be awarded pursuant to a nationwide competition established by the Administrator.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H476657ED75084699ADBDD55D00002C8B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Qualifications</header><text>A successful program applicant shall be an individual who has demonstrated—</text> <clause id="HDB48E18E3B1E4848B3AF10DE0018546C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an intent to pursue a career in humanitarian services and outstanding potential for such a career;</text> </clause><clause id="HBD802EA74E8846C8003252A7E1AB1727"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>leadership potential or actual leadership experience;</text> </clause><clause id="H94C551800F2F4E9692766B0053B2E996"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>diverse life experience;</text> </clause><clause id="HFB2923666DBA4CDA8C0053242EF30637"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>proficient writing and speaking skills;</text> </clause><clause id="H5A82940A1DB840CC8BC44102FDA8BBFA"><enum>(v)</enum><text>an ability to live in poor or diverse communities; and</text> </clause><clause id="H0552D789626241909C17B7EB559896F4"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>such other attributes as are considered to be appropriate by the Administrator.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H023D0874ACBF44A5ABD0CFBEA87E9613"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Amount of award</header> <subparagraph id="H14929B7723F4458288D862C4EC4880C5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A fellow shall receive—</text> <clause id="H5C8EA92088B54F1E00FFF4B5BFD3F97D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a living allowance during the term of the Fellowship; and</text> </clause><clause id="H41B035A456FC4BE3B352A8FC4B37A175"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>subject to subparagraph (B), an end-of-service award.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA75ECEE1384D41E5906D351B23A7D75"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirement for successful completion of fellowship</header><text>Each fellow shall be entitled to receive an end-of-service award at an appropriate rate for each month of satisfactory service completed, as determined by the Administrator.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H64AF14DBFB344E25B6B6F3BEB084157"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Terms of fellowship</header><text>A fellow shall not be considered an employee of—</text> <clause id="H7D5726A171F84405B40180BEF75909A0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Department of Agriculture;</text> </clause><clause id="HE6664271FBA94DE28601146F740045BF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Congressional Hunger Center; or</text> </clause><clause id="H80C7BE70521A4310AC562859164D2F21"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a host agency in the field or policy placement of the fellow.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5B151CECBDC74299B7F5489F7EC3D9CB"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Recognition of Fellowship Award</header> <clause id="H3D50D0D05D194914A625F985A2B65B7E"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Emerson Fellow</header><text>An individual awarded a fellowship from the Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship shall be known as an <quote>Emerson Fellow</quote>.</text> </clause><clause id="H79768DF9FE374ACEA4A36B60C34BA25B"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Leland Fellow</header><text>An individual awarded a fellowship from the Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship shall be known as a <quote>Leland Fellow</quote>.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H849B9C86449C4D0B945FD3D83B3221FD"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Evaluation</header><text>The Administrator shall conduct periodic evaluations of the Fellowship Programs.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2F22CDA49B3640DA88B26E650621E1AC"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authority</header> <paragraph id="H2E79722605B246FCA55C4D36519ED1CF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), in carrying out this section, the Administrator may solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of facilitating the work of the Fellowship Programs.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HFD7D8FED391B4B8AAC77C9574E1D71D4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall be used exclusively for the purposes of the Fellowship Programs.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H382DD3C14E45408DA5761E9C75B4C8E6"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Each year, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes the activities and expenditures of the Fellowship Programs during the preceding fiscal year.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H1AB74C2F7100422B820000FE9D921CE0"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To carry out this section, $3,000,000 shall be appropriated in fiscal year 2008 from funds otherwise not appropriated from the Treasury and in for each fiscal year thereafter, an amount that is equal to the amount from the previous fiscal year adjusted to the nearest lower dollar increment to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for items other than food, for the twelve months ending the preceding June 30.</text> </subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="H7EB9F8E63E024ECC98D472F8E8C7D92"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Repeal</header><text>Section 4404 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/1161">2 U.S.C. 1161</external-xref>) is repealed.</text> </subsection></section>