Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to table an amendment to S Amdt 2391 to S 3240 that repeals the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program, authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide grants to states for supplemental nutrition assistance, and limits appropriations for the grant program to $45 billion per year.

Highlights:

• Repeals the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which authorized a federal supplemental nutrition assistance program to provide nutrition assistance to low-income households.

• Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to distribute grants to each state to administer supplemental nutrition assistance programs.

• Limits the supplemental nutrition assistance program to households that meet one of the following criteria:
• Households in which each member receives supplemental security income under the Social Security Act;
• Households whose income is less than 100 percent of the federal poverty line; or
• Households in which each member receives benefits under a state or federal assistance program.

• Limits appropriations for grants to states for supplemental nutrition assistance programs to $45 billion each year, beginning in 2013.

• Specifies that the amount of each grant shall be equal to $45 billion multiplied by the proportion of individuals whose income is less than 100 percent of the federal poverty line divided by the number of such individuals in all states seeking grants.

• Requires states to submit a written plan to the secretary of the Department of Agriculture that includes the following information in order to receive a grant to administer a supplemental nutrition assistance program:
• Specific objective criteria for determining eligibility for nutritional assistance for low-income households including, but not limited to, income, assets, family composition, age, and work;
• Specific objective criteria for the fair and equitable treatment of recipients;
• A description of benefits provided; and
• A description of the manner in which benefits will be provided.

• Requires states to certify that they will provide supplemental nutrition assistance only to citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States, and that they will take all necessary actions to ensure that benefits are not provided to individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents.

• Requires states to certify that they will establish and enforce standards and procedures to ensure against program fraud, waste, and abuse and will prohibit individuals who attempt to receive benefits fraudulently from receiving any further benefits.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text