Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 5055 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5055

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to simplify supplemental nutrition assistance program access for elderly and disabled individuals.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 26, 2025

Mr. Riley of New York (for himself, Mr. Lawler, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Brown, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mrs. McClain Delaney, Ms. Norton, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Mannion, and Mr. Carson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

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A BILL

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to simplify supplemental nutrition assistance program access for elderly and disabled individuals.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS.

(a) Definition.--Section 3(f) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(f)) is amended in the second sentence by inserting ``, or 36 months if that household has no earned income'' before the period at the end. (b) Excess Medical Expense Deduction.--Section 5(e)(5)(A) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(5)(A)) is amended-- (1) by inserting ``(i)'' before ``A'', and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(ii)(I) A State agency may establish a standard medical deduction option for elderly or disabled household members who self-attest to having medical expenses in excess of $35 a month (exclusive of special diets). ``(II) The standard medical deduction amount shall be-- ``(aa) for fiscal year 2026, $155; and ``(bb) 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. ``(III) For any fiscal year, a State agency may establish a greater standard medical expense deduction than described in subclause (II) if the State provides reasonable evidence for a more accurate assessment of average monthly medical costs in their State.''. (c) Administration.--Section 11(e)(3) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(3)) is amended by inserting after ``this Act'' the second place it appears the following: ``(except that State agency may use data matches in lieu of income verification if the household qualifies for a 36-month certification period under section 3(f))''.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.

(a) Effective Date.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Application of Amendments.--The amendments made by this Act shall not apply with respect to certification periods that begin before the effective date of this Act. <all>