Calculation of program benefits using low-cost food plan

(a) Definition of low-Cost food plan Section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012) is amended— (1) by striking subsection (u); (2) by redesignating subsections (n) through (t) as subsections (o) through (u), respectively; and (3) by inserting after subsection (m) the following: (n) Low-Cost food plan (1) In general The term low-cost food plan means the diet, determined in accordance with the calculations of the Secretary, required to feed a 4-person family that consists of— (A) a man and a woman who are each between 19 and 50 years of age; (B) a child who is between 6 and 8 years of age; and (C) a child who is between 9 and 11 years of age. (2) Reevaluation By December 31, 2031, and at 5-year intervals thereafter, the Secretary shall reevaluate and publish the market baskets of the low-cost food plan, based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance. (3) Cost For purposes of paragraph (1), the cost of the diet described in that paragraph shall be the basis for uniform allotments for all households regardless of the actual composition of the household, except that the Secretary shall— (A) make household-size adjustments (based on the unrounded cost of that diet) taking into account economies of scale; (B) make cost adjustments in the low-cost food plan for the State of Hawaii and the urban and rural parts of the State of Alaska to reflect the cost of food in Hawaii and urban and rural Alaska, respectively; and (C) on October 1, 2025, and each October 1 thereafter, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect the cost of the diet in the immediately preceding June, and round the result to the nearest lower-dollar increment for each household size.. (b) Value of allotment Section 8(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2017(a)) is amended— (1) by striking thrifty food plan each place it appears and inserting low-cost food plan; and (2) in the proviso, by striking 8 percent and inserting 10 percent. (c) Quality control system Section 16(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(1)(A)(ii)) is amended— (1) in subclause (II)— (A) by striking thrifty food plan is adjusted under section 3(u)(4) and inserting low-cost food plan is adjusted under section 3(n)(3)(D); and (B) by striking 2013 and inserting 2025; (2) by redesignating subclause (II) as subclause (III); and (3) by striking subclause (I) and inserting the following: (I) for fiscal year 2025, at an amount not greater than $50; (II) for fiscal year 2026, the amount specified in subclause (I) adjusted by the difference between the thrifty food plan (as defined in section 3 (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025)) and the low-cost food plan; and. (d) Conforming amendments (1) Section 10 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2019) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking 3(o)(4) and inserting 3(p)(4). (2) Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended— (A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking 3(s)(1) and inserting 3(t)(1); (B) in subsection (d)— (i) by striking 3(s)(1) each place it appears and inserting 3(t)(1); (ii) by striking 3(s)(2) each place it appears and inserting 3(t)(2); and (iii) by striking Act (25 U.S.C. 450) and inserting and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.); and (C) in subsection (e)(17), by striking 3(s)(1) and inserting 3(t)(1). (3) Section 19(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028(a)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking thrifty food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4) and inserting low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(n)(3)(D). (4) Section 27(a)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036(a)(2)) is amended— (A) in subparagraph (C), by inserting (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025) after section 3(u)(4); (B) in subparagraph (D)(ix), by striking and at the end; (C) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); (D) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: (E) for fiscal year 2025, the sum obtained by adding— (i) the dollar amount of commodities specified in subparagraph (B) adjusted by the percentage by which the low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4) between June 30, 2025, and June 30 of the immediately preceding fiscal year; and (ii) $35,000,000; and; and (E) in subparagraph (F) (as so redesignated), by striking subparagraph (D)(ix) adjusted by the percentage by which the thrifty food plan has been adjusted under section 3(u)(4) and inserting subparagraph (F) adjusted by the percentage by which the low-cost food plan has been adjusted under section 3(n)(3)(D). (5) Section 408(a)(12)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(12)(B)(i)) is amended by striking (r) each place it appears.