H.R. 5129: Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025

Introduced Sep 4, 20254 cosponsors

Sponsor

Alma Adams

Democrat · NC

Bill Progress

IntroducedSep 4

Committee

Pass House

Pass Senate

Signed

Law

Latest Action · Sep 4, 2025

1/2

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

SNAP was built on a budget diet — this bill upgrades the formula

Why it matters

If enacted, the biggest winners would be low-income households facing high food, housing, and medical costs, especially seniors and disabled recipients who could claim a new standard medical deduction or use actual expenses, and renters who would benefit from eliminating the cap on excess shelter deductions. The bill also repeals SNAP’s time limit for able-bodied adults without dependents, a long-running conservative target, so the tradeoff is obvious: more help and broader access for struggling households, but at a significantly higher federal cost and with provisions Republicans have historically opposed.

H.R. 5129 Common Questions

How much would the standard medical deduction be for seniors on SNAP in 2025?

The bill sets a $140 standard medical deduction for fiscal year 2023, with annual CPI medical-care adjustments after that for elderly or disabled members under the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025 (Section 3).

Can seniors or disabled SNAP recipients choose actual medical expenses instead of the standard deduction?

Yes. Under the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025 (Section 3), elderly or disabled household members may use either a standard medical deduction or their actual medical costs.

Does the Closing the Meal Gap Act end SNAP time limits?

Yes. The bill eliminates SNAP's time limit by striking subsection (o) of Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 under the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025 (Section 4).

Does the bill remove the cap on excess shelter deductions for SNAP?

Yes. Under the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025 (Section 3), the cap on excess shelter expenses is eliminated by striking Section 5(e)(6)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

Will SNAP benefits be based on the low-cost food plan instead of the thrifty food plan?

Yes. According to HR5129 Section 2, SNAP allotments would be calculated using the low-cost food plan, replacing the thrifty food plan throughout the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

How often would USDA have to update the SNAP low-cost food plan market baskets?

USDA must reevaluate and publish the market baskets by December 31, 2029, and every 5 years after that under the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025 (Section 2).

Would SNAP food costs be adjusted differently for Hawaii and Alaska under HR5129?

Yes. Under HR5129 Section 2, the Secretary must make state-specific cost adjustments for Hawaii and for urban and rural Alaska.

When would SNAP benefit cost adjustments happen each year under the Closing the Meal Gap Act?

The bill requires annual adjustments each October 1, using data from the preceding June, under the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025 (Section 2).

What is the new SNAP proviso threshold in the Closing the Meal Gap Act?

The bill raises the proviso threshold from 8 percent to 10 percent under the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025 (Section 2).

How much extra commodity funding does HR5129 add for fiscal year 2023?

According to HR5129 Section 2, the bill adds $35,000,000 to the commodity calculation for fiscal year 2023.

Based on H.R. 5129 bill text

What Congress Is Saying

Floor speeches, committee statements, and official milestones mentioning H.R. 5129.

H.R. 5129 hasn't been debated on the floor yet.

This section updates when a legislator speaks about it on the floor or in committee.

HR5129 Legislative Journey

1 actions

Committee Action

Sep 4, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

About the Sponsor

Alma Adams

Democrat, North Carolina's 12th congressional district · 12 years in Congress

Committees: Agriculture, Education and Workforce

View full profile →

Cosponsors (4)

No new cosponsors in 74 days — momentum stalled

All 4 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 4 states: California, Connecticut, New York, and 1 more.

4Democrats·4 states

Nydia Velázquez

Democrat · NY

Jahana Hayes

Democrat · CT

Summer Lee

Democrat · PA

Salud Carbajal

Democrat · CA

H.R. 5129 Quick Facts

Cosponsors

Chamber: House
Policy: Agriculture and Food
Introduced: Sep 4, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Sep 4, 2025

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H.R. 5129 Bill Text

“To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require that supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits be calculated using the value of the low-cost food plan, and for other purposes.”

Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office