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Easier Access to Benefits for Individuals with Criminal Records

This act repeals the federal ban on social and food assistance for individuals with drug-related convictions. Additionally, individuals scheduled for release from incarceration within 30 days will be eligible for food assistance, aiming to ease their reintegration into society and ensure basic needs are met.
Key points
Individuals with drug-related convictions can now apply for federal social (TANF) and food (SNAP) benefits.
Incarcerated individuals scheduled for release within 30 days can apply for food assistance (SNAP) before leaving prison.
State laws that restricted access to these benefits due to drug-related pasts are no longer valid.
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021
Print number: HR 2837
Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Process start date: 2021-04-26
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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Summary & Status

Key Questions about Easier Access to Benefits for Individuals with Criminal Records

A structured overview of the legislative process, official sources, status and civic context.

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is HR 2837.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-04-26.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Individuals with drug-related convictions can now apply for federal social (TANF) and food (SNAP) benefits.
  • Incarcerated individuals scheduled for release within 30 days can apply for food assistance (SNAP) before leaving prison.
  • State laws that restricted access to these benefits due to drug-related pasts are no longer valid.

What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-27.

Analysis and Potential Impact of HR 2837

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge. Review our public AI processing logs for full transparency, and use Lustra to track active legislation for instant status push notifications.

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Benefits Courts and Law