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Referenced Laws
7 U.S.C. 2012
7 U.S.C. 2017(a)
7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(1)(A)(ii)
7 U.S.C. 2019
7 U.S.C. 2020
25 U.S.C. 450
25 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
7 U.S.C. 2028(a)(2)(A)(ii)
7 U.S.C. 2036(a)(2)
42 U.S.C. 608(a)(12)(B)(i)
7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(5)
42 U.S.C. 8624(f)(2)(A)
7 U.S.C. 2015
7 U.S.C. 2016(i)(1)
Section 51(d)(8)(A)(ii)
29 U.S.C. 3113
29 U.S.C. 3151
Section 1
1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025.
Section 2
2. Calculation of program benefits using low-cost food plan Section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012) is amended— by striking subsection (u); by redesignating subsections (n) through (t) as subsections (o) through (u), respectively; and by inserting after subsection (m) the following: The term low-cost food plan means the diet, determined in accordance with the calculations of the Secretary, required to feed a 4-person family that consists of— a man and a woman who are each between 19 and 50 years of age; a child who is between 6 and 8 years of age; and a child who is between 9 and 11 years of age. By December 31, 2031, and at 5-year intervals thereafter, the Secretary shall reevaluate and publish the market baskets of the low-cost food plan, based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance. For purposes of paragraph (1), the cost of the diet described in that paragraph shall be the basis for uniform allotments for all households regardless of the actual composition of the household, except that the Secretary shall— make household-size adjustments (based on the unrounded cost of that diet) taking into account economies of scale; make cost adjustments in the low-cost food plan for the State of Hawaii and the urban and rural parts of the State of Alaska to reflect the cost of food in Hawaii and urban and rural Alaska, respectively; and on October 1, 2025, and each October 1 thereafter, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect the cost of the diet in the immediately preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower-dollar increment for each household size. Section 8(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2017(a)) is amended— by striking thrifty food plan each place it appears and inserting low-cost food plan; and in the proviso, by striking 8 percent and inserting 10 percent. Section 16(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(1)(A)(ii)) is amended— in subclause (II)— by striking thrifty food plan is adjusted under section 3(u)(4) and inserting low-cost food plan is adjusted under section 3(n)(3)(D); and by striking 2013 and inserting 2025; by redesignating subclause (II) as subclause (III); and by striking subclause (I) and inserting the following: for fiscal year 2025, at an amount not greater than $50; for fiscal year 2026, the amount specified in subclause (I) adjusted by the difference between the thrifty food plan (as defined in section 3 (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025)) and the low-cost food plan; and Section 10 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2019) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking 3(o)(4) and inserting 3(p)(4). Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended— in subsection (a)(2), by striking 3(s)(1) and inserting 3(t)(1); in subsection (d)— by striking 3(s)(1) each place it appears and inserting 3(t)(1); by striking 3(s)(2) each place it appears and inserting 3(t)(2); and by striking Act (25 U.S.C. 450) and inserting and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.); and in subsection (e)(17), by striking 3(s)(1) and inserting 3(t)(1). Section 19(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028(a)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking thrifty food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4) and inserting low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(n)(3)(D). Section 27(a)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036(a)(2)) is amended— in subparagraph (C), by inserting (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025) after section 3(u)(4); in subparagraph (D)(ix), by striking and at the end; by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: for fiscal year 2025, the sum obtained by adding— the dollar amount of commodities specified in subparagraph (B) adjusted by the percentage by which the low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4) between June 30, 2025, and June 30 of the immediately preceding fiscal year; and $35,000,000; and in subparagraph (F) (as so redesignated), by striking subparagraph (D)(ix) adjusted by the percentage by which the thrifty food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4) and inserting subparagraph (F) adjusted by the percentage by which the low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(n)(3)(D). Section 408(a)(12)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(12)(B)(i)) is amended by striking (r) each place it appears. (n) Low-Cost food plan (1) In general The term low-cost food plan means the diet, determined in accordance with the calculations of the Secretary, required to feed a 4-person family that consists of—
(A)
a man and a woman who are each between 19 and 50 years of age;
(B)
a child who is between 6 and 8 years of age; and (C) a child who is between 9 and 11 years of age.
(2)
Reevaluation
By December 31, 2031, and at 5-year intervals thereafter, the Secretary shall reevaluate and publish the market baskets of the low-cost food plan, based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance.
(3)
Cost
For purposes of paragraph (1), the cost of the diet described in that paragraph shall be the basis for uniform allotments for all households regardless of the actual composition of the household, except that the Secretary shall—
(A)
make household-size adjustments (based on the unrounded cost of that diet) taking into account economies of scale;
(B)
make cost adjustments in the low-cost food plan for the State of Hawaii and the urban and rural parts of the State of Alaska to reflect the cost of food in Hawaii and urban and rural Alaska, respectively; and
(C)
on October 1, 2025, and each October 1 thereafter, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect the cost of the diet in the immediately preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower-dollar increment for each household size.
. (I) for fiscal year 2025, at an amount not greater than $50;
(II)
for fiscal year 2026, the amount specified in subclause (I) adjusted by the difference between the thrifty food plan (as defined in section 3 (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025)) and the low-cost food plan; and
. (E) for fiscal year 2025, the sum obtained by adding—
(i)
the dollar amount of commodities specified in subparagraph (B) adjusted by the percentage by which the low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4) between June 30, 2025, and June 30 of the immediately preceding fiscal year; and
(ii)
$35,000,000; and ; and
Section 3
3. Deductions from income Section 5(e)(5) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(5)) is amended— in the paragraph heading, by striking Excess medical and inserting Medical; in subparagraph (A), by striking an excess medical and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting a standard medical deduction or a medical expense deduction of actual costs for the allowable medical expenses incurred by the elderly or disabled member, exclusive of special diets.; in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking excess; and by adding at the end the following: Except as provided in clause (ii), the standard medical expense deduction shall be— for fiscal year 2025, $140; and for each subsequent fiscal year, equal to the applicable amount for the immediately preceding fiscal year as adjusted to reflect changes for the 12-month period ending the preceding June 30 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Medical Care published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor. For any fiscal year, a State agency may establish a greater standard medical expense deduction than described in clause (i) if the greater deduction satisfies cost neutrality standards established by the Secretary for that fiscal year. Section 5(e)(6) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)) is amended— by striking subparagraph (B); and by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively. Section 2605(f)(2)(A) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624(f)(2)(A)) is amended by striking 5(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I)) and inserting 5(e)(6)(B)(iv)(I) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(B)(iv)(I)). (D)
Standard medical expense deduction amount
(i)
In general
Except as provided in clause (ii), the standard medical expense deduction shall be—
(I)
for fiscal year 2025, $140; and (II) for each subsequent fiscal year, equal to the applicable amount for the immediately preceding fiscal year as adjusted to reflect changes for the 12-month period ending the preceding June 30 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Medical Care published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.
(ii)
Exception
For any fiscal year, a State agency may establish a greater standard medical expense deduction than described in clause (i) if the greater deduction satisfies cost neutrality standards established by the Secretary for that fiscal year.
.
Section 4
4. Elimination of time limit Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended— by striking subsection (o); and by redesignating subsections (p) through (s) as subsections (o) through (r), respectively. Section 5(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(a)) is amended, in the second sentence, by striking (r) and inserting (q). Section 6(d)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(4)) is amended— in subparagraph (B)(ii)(I)(bb)(DD), by striking or subsection (o); and in subparagraph (N), by striking or subsection (o) each place it appears. Section 7(i)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(i)(1)) is amended by striking section 6(o)(2) of this Act or. Section 16(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)) is amended— in paragraph (1)— in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking that— and all that follows through the period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting that is determined and adjusted by the Secretary.; by striking subparagraph (E); by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (E); and in clause (ii)(III)(ee)(AA) of subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated), by striking , individuals subject to the requirements under section 6(o),; and in paragraph (5)(C)— in clause (ii), by adding and at the end; in clause (iii), by striking ; and and inserting a period; and by striking clause (iv). Section 51(d)(8)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— in subclause (I), by striking , or at the end and inserting a period; in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking family— and all that follows through receiving in subclause (I) and inserting family receiving; and by striking subclause (II). Section 103(a)(2) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3113) is amended— by striking subparagraph (D); and by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (K) as subparagraphs (D) through (J), respectively. Section 121(b)(2)(B) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3151) is amended— by striking clause (iv); and by redesignating clauses (v) through (vii) as clauses (iv) through (vi), respectively.