§ 2011. Congressional declaration of policy

§ 2011. Congressional declaration of policy

It is declared to be the policy of Congress, in order to promote the general welfare, to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation’s population by raising levels of nutrition among low-income households. Congress finds that the limited food purchasing power of low-income households contributes to hunger and malnutrition among members of such households. Congress further finds that increased utilization of food in establishing and maintaining adequate national levels of nutrition will promote the distribution in a beneficial manner of the Nation’s agricultural abundance and will strengthen the Nation’s agricultural economy, as well as result in more orderly marketing and distribution of foods. To alleviate such hunger and malnutrition, a supplemental nutrition assistance program is herein authorized which will permit low-income households to obtain a more nutritious diet through normal channels of trade by increasing food purchasing power for all eligible households who apply for participation.

That program includes as a purpose to assist low-income adults in obtaining employment and increasing their earnings. Such employment and earnings, along with program benefits, will permit low-income households to obtain a more nutritious diet through normal channels of trade by increasing food purchasing power for all eligible households who apply for participation.

(Pub. L. 88–525, § 2, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 703; Pub. L. 91–671, § 1, Jan. 11, 1971, 84 Stat. 2048; Pub. L. 95–113, title XIII, § 1301, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 958; Pub. L. 110–234, title IV, § 4001(b), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1092; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title IV, § 4001(b), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1853; Pub. L. 118–5, div. C, title II, § 313, June 3, 2023, 137 Stat. 38.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments

2023—Pub. L. 118–5 added second par.

2008—Pub. L. 110–246, § 4001(b), substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program” for “food stamp program”.

1977—Pub. L. 95–113 substituted “a more nutritious diet” for “a nutritionally adequate diet” as the object of the program.

1971—Pub. L. 91–671 provided for cooperation in utilization of Nation’s abundance of food by other agencies, struck out “to the maximum extent practicable” before “to safeguard the health”, enunciated finding that limited food purchasing power of low-income households contributes to hunger and malnutrition, and substituted “promote the distribution” for “will tend to cause the distribution” and authorization of a program (to alleviate hunger and malnutrition) which will permit low-income households to purchase a nutritionally adequate diet through normal channels of trade for prior authorization of a program (to effectuate policy of Congress and purposes of this chapter) which will permit such households to receive a greater share of Nation’s abundance of food.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.

Amendment by section 4001(b) of Pub. L. 110–246 effective Oct. 1, 2008, see section 4407 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 1161 of Title 2, The Congress.

Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–113, title XIII, § 1301, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 958, provided that the amendment made by section 1301 is effective Oct. 1, 1977.

Short Title of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–171, title IV, § 4001, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 305, provided that: “This title [enacting section 3007 of this title and section 1161 of Title 2, The Congress, amending sections 1431e, 2012, 2014 to 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 to 2028, 2031, 2034, 2036, and 7508 of this title, sections 1612, 1613, and 1631 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality, and sections 1755, 1758, 1760, 1769, and 1786 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, repealing section 2033 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 612c, 2014 to 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026, 2028, 2034, 2036, and 3171 of this title, section 1161 of Title 2, section 1612 of Title 8, and sections 1755, 1758, 1769, and 1786 of Title 42, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 612c of this title] may be cited as the ‘Food Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2002’.”

Short Title of 2000 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–171, § 1, Feb. 11, 2000, 114 Stat. 3, provided that: “This Act [amending section 2016 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 2016 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Electronic Benefit Transfer Interoperability and Portability Act of 2000’.”

Short Title of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–225, § 1, Mar. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 106, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 2012, 2014 to 2016, 2018, and 2026 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under section 2012 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as notes under sections 2015 and 2016 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Food Stamp Program Improvements Act of 1994’.”

Short Title of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13901(a), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 672, provided that: “This chapter [chapter 3 (§§ 13901–13971) of title XIII of Pub. L. 103–66, amending sections 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020 to 2023, 2025, 2026, and 2028 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 2025 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Mickey Leland Childhood Hunger Relief Act’.”

Short Title of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, § 1701, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3783, provided that: “This title [enacting section 2032 of this title, amending sections 1431, 1431e, 2012, 2014 to 2018, 2020 to 2022, 2024 to 2028, 3175, and 3175e of this title, section 6109 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, and sections 405 and 9904 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 612c, 2012, 2014, 2020, 2025, and 2028 of this title and section 1751 of Title 42, and amending provisions set out as notes under sections 612c and 2012 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Mickey Leland Memorial Domestic Hunger Relief Act’.”

Short Title of 1988 Amendments

Pub. L. 100–435, § 1(a), Sept. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 1645, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 2012, 2014 to 2017, 2020 to 2023, 2025, and 2026 of this title, section 713a–14 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, and sections 1761, 1766, 1773, and 1786 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 612c and 2012 of this title and sections 1766 and 1786 of Title 42, and amending provisions set out as notes under sections 612c, 1731, and 2012 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Hunger Prevention Act of 1988’.”

Pub. L. 100–232, § 1, Jan. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1566, provided that: “This Act [amending section 2014 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 612c of this title] may be cited as the ‘Charitable Assistance and Food Bank Act of 1987’.”

Short Title of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–570, title XI, § 11001, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–167, provided that: “This title [amending sections 2012, 2018 and 2019 of this title, sections 1531 and 1603 of Title 29, Labor, sections 3003 and 3020 [now 5103 and 5120] of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits, and sections 1383 and 1396a of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 2012 of this title, sections 5103 and 5120 of Title 38, and sections 602, 1383 and 1396a of Title 42] may be cited as the ‘Homeless Eligibility Clarification Act’.”

Short Title of 1982 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–253, title I, § 140, Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 772, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle E (§§ 140–193) of title I of Pub. L. 97–253, amending sections 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1624, 2012, and 2028 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Food Stamp Act Amendments of 1982’.”

Short Title of 1981 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–98, title XIII, § 1301, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1282, provided that: “This title [enacting sections 2029 and 2270 of this title, amending sections 2012, 2014 to 2016, 2018 to 2020, and 2023 to 2027 of this title, enacting a provision set out as a note under section 2012 of this title, and amending provisions set out as notes under section 612c of this title] may be cited as the ‘Food Stamp and Commodity Distribution Amendments of 1981’.”

Short Title of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–249, § 1, May 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 357, provided: “That this Act [amending sections 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, and 2024 to 2027 of this title, sections 6103 and 7213 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, and sections 503 and 504 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2014 and 2026 of this title, section 6103 of Title 26, and section 503 of Title 42] may be cited as the ‘Food Stamp Act Amendments of 1980’.”

Short Title of 1976 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–339, § 1, July 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 799, provided: “That this Act [amending sections 2012, 2015, and 2016 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Emergency Food Stamp Vendor Accountability Act of 1976’.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 88–525, § 1, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 703, as amended by Pub. L. 95–113, title XIII, § 1301, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 958; Pub. L. 110–234, title IV, § 4001(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1092; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title IV, § 4001(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1853, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Food and Nutrition Act of 2008’.”

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program During COVID–19 Public Health Emergency