Overview
Title
To provide appropriations for the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 during the first lapse in appropriations in a fiscal year.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 9792 is a plan to make sure there's money to help people buy food if the government shuts down, lasting up to 90 days until things get sorted out.
Summary AI
H.R. 9792 is a bill introduced in the House of Representatives that aims to ensure funding for the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 during a government shutdown. It proposes that for any fiscal year starting after September 30, 2024, necessary funds would be allocated for the first 90 days of any lapse in appropriations to support this program. These funds are to be reserved for use only as necessary and will remain available until used. The bill is known as the “Feed Our Families Act of 2024.”
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AnalysisAI
The proposed legislation, H. R. 9792, introduced in the House of Representatives by Mrs. Sykes along with Ms. Brown and Ms. McClellan, aims to ensure that the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, commonly associated with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), will continue to receive funding even during a government shutdown. This bill, titled the "Feed Our Families Act of 2024", specifically guarantees funding for SNAP for up to 90 days during any fiscal year starting after September 30, 2024, when there might be a lapse in government appropriations.
General Summary
The "Feed Our Families Act of 2024" provides a financial cushion that would allow SNAP programs to continue uninterrupted in case of a government shutdown or funding gap. This measure ensures that SNAP, a vital program supporting millions of low-income individuals and families by providing food-purchasing assistance, maintains operations without disruption. The bill commits to allocating "such sums as are necessary" from the U.S. Treasury to keep the program funded during these first 90 days of any lapse.
Significant Issues
While this bill addresses the pressing need to provide continuity in funding for essential nutrition programs, several issues arise from its phrasing and implementation:
Vague Funding Allocation: The bill authorizes indefinite funds without setting an upper limit, using the language "such sums as are necessary." This wording lacks specificity and could potentially open doors for financial mismanagement or an unnecessary expenditure of resources.
Lack of Concrete Criteria: There is no outlined process for how and when these funds should be allocated. This absence of defined procedures could result in ambiguity, leading to inconsistent financial management and oversight.
Open-ended Spending Timeframe: The provision that funds "shall remain available until expended" offers no deadline for spending, which might encourage inefficiency. Without a clear timeframe, there might be less incentive to utilize the funds in a timely and efficient manner.
Impact on the Public
On a broad scale, the bill has the potential to shield vulnerable populations from the adverse effects of government shutdowns. By ensuring the continued operation of SNAP, it directly benefits many low-income families and individuals who rely on these food benefits, thereby promoting food security and public health during times of economic uncertainty.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For recipients of SNAP benefits, this bill is significantly beneficial as it ensures continued access to necessary resources, thus alleviating immediate concerns about food insecurity during government funding lapses.
For government bodies and policymakers, however, the bill’s lack of detailed financial constraints and procedural guidelines could complicate budgetary oversight and lead to debates over prioritizing government spending.
Lastly, for taxpayers, there may be concerns related to the lack of defined financial limits, as it could raise questions about prudent fiscal management and accountability during periods when government resources are stretched thin.
In conclusion, while the "Feed Our Families Act of 2024" serves an essential purpose in safeguarding key support systems like SNAP during fiscal interruptions, its implementation would benefit from clearer financial guidelines and a more structured allocation process to avoid potential inefficiencies and ensure accountability.
Issues
The provision allowing for 'such sums as are necessary' for appropriations in Section 2 is vague and could result in financial mismanagement or misuse of funds, as it lacks a specific upper limit which may lead to wasteful spending.
The absence of a clear process or criteria in Section 2 for determining the necessary amounts and timing of fund allocation introduces potential ambiguity and lack of accountability in the appropriation process.
The requirement in Section 2 that funds 'shall remain available until expended' may discourage efficient use of resources by not instituting a deadline for spending, potentially leading to financial inefficiencies.
The bill's overall approach in Section 2 to providing funding during a lapse might lead to political debate about government spending priorities and the potential misuse of emergency financial provisions.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section describes the short title of the Act, stating that it can be called the “Feed Our Families Act of 2024.”
2. Appropriations for SNAP during first lapse in appropriations in a fiscal year Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
In fiscal years starting after September 30, 2024, if there is a funding gap for the Food and Nutrition Act programs, the government will allocate necessary funds to support these programs for the first 90 days of the gap. These funds will be used only as needed and will be available until they are fully spent.