End Pandemic Hunger for College Students Act of 2020

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 6756 To modify the eligibility standards applicable to low-income college students under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 during COVID–19 public health emergency. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 8, 2020 Ms. FUDGE (for herself and Mr. SCOTT of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subse- quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To modify the eligibility standards applicable to low-income college students under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 during COVID–19 public health emergency. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘End Pandemic Hunger 4 for College Students Act of 2020’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:28 May 19, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6756.IH H6756 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 6756 IH SEC. 2. SNAP ELIGIBILITY FOR LOW-INCOME COLLEGE STU- 1 DENTS. 2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi- 3 sion of law, not later than 20 days after the date of the 4 enactment of this Act, eligibility for supplemental nutri- 5 tion assistance program benefits shall not be limited under 6 section 6(e) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 7 U.S.C. 2015(e)) for an individual who as of March 1, 8 2020, or anytime in the prior 30 days was— 9 (1) enrolled at least half-time in an institution 10 of higher education; and 11 (2) participating in the supplemental nutrition 12 assistance program. 13 (b) STATE OPTION.— 14 (1) AUTHORITY TO ADJUST ADDITIONAL ELIGI- 15 BILITY STANDARDS.—In addition to the application 16 of subsection (a) and if requested by a State agency 17 or issued by nationwide guidance by the Secretary, 18 the Secretary may adjust the eligibility standards 19 under section 6(e) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 20 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(e)) for individuals who are en- 21 rolled in an institution of higher education in any 22 State affected by the outbreak of COVID–19. In 23 making an adjustment authorized by this paragraph, 24 the Secretary shall consider closures of facilities at 25 institutions of higher education and any other factor 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:28 May 19, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6756.IH H6756 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 6756 IH that affects the ability of such individuals to meet 1 such standards. 2 (2) READILY APPROVABLE ADJUSTMENT RE- 3 QUESTS.—The Secretary shall approve a request of 4 a State agency to adjust the eligibility standards 5 under section 6(e) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 6 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(e)) for individuals who are en- 7 rolled at least half-time in an institution of higher 8 education and— 9 (A) are members of households, as de- 10 scribed in section 3(m)(2) of such Act (7 11 U.S.C. 2012(m)(2)), who are otherwise eligible 12 to participate in the supplemental nutrition as- 13 sistance program; or 14 (B) in the most recent academic year, had 15 an expected family contribution of $0 as deter- 16 mined in accordance with part F of title IV of 17 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 18 1087kk et seq.). 19 (c) SUNSET.— 20 (1) INITIAL APPLICATIONS.—The eligibility 21 standards authorized under subsections (a) and (b) 22 shall be in effect for initial applications for the sup- 23 plemental nutrition assistance program until 90 days 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:28 May 19, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6756.IH H6756 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 6756 IH after the COVID–19 public health emergency is lift- 1 ed. 2 (2) RECERTIFICATIONS.—The eligibility stand- 3 ards authorized under subsections (a) and (b) shall 4 be in effect until the first recertification of a house- 5 hold beginning no earlier than 90 days after the 6 COVID–19 public health emergency is lifted. 7 (d) GUIDANCE.— 8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 10 days after 9 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 10 shall issue guidance to State agencies on the tem- 11 porary student eligibility requirements, and State 12 options, established under this section. 13 (2) COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF 14 EDUCATION.—The Secretary of Education, in con- 15 sultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and insti- 16 tutions of higher education, shall carry out activities 17 to inform applicants for Federal student financial 18 aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 19 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) and students at institutions of 20 higher education of the temporary student eligibility 21 requirements established under this section. 22 (e) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Not later than 10 days 23 after the date of the receipt or issuance of each document 24 listed in paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection, the 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:28 May 19, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6756.IH H6756 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 6756 IH Secretary shall make publicly available on the website of 1 the Department of Agriculture the following documents: 2 (1) Any request submitted by State agencies 3 under subsection (b). 4 (2) The Secretary’s approval or denial of each 5 such request. 6 (3) Any guidance issued by the Secretary to 7 carry out this section. 8 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 9 (1) COVID–19.—The term ‘‘COVID–19’’ has 10 the meaning given such term in section 2102 of the 11 CARES Act (Public Law 116–136). 12 (2) COVID–19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.— 13 The term ‘‘COVID–19 public health emergency’’ has 14 the meaning given such term in section 2102 of the 15 CARES Act (Public Law 116–136). 16 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 17 the Secretary of Agriculture. 18 (4) STATE AGENCY.—The term ‘‘State agency’’ 19 has the meaning given such term in section 3(s) of 20 the Food and Nutrition Act (7 U.S.C. 2012(s)). 21 (5) SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE 22 PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘supplemental nutrition as- 23 sistance program’’ has the meaning given such term 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:41 May 21, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6756.IH H6756 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 6756 IH in section 3(t) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 1 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(t)). 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:28 May 19, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H6756.IH H6756 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS