Student Food Security Act of 2021
This bill expands the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and establishes programs to address food insecurity among college students.
Specifically, the bill permanently modifies the eligibility requirements to allow additional college students to receive SNAP benefits, and it establishes a demonstration program to allow college students to use SNAP benefits on college campuses instead of meal plans. The bill also advances implementation of certain data-sharing agreements and notifications to help students who apply for federal financial aid to also apply for and receive other federal means-tested benefits (e.g., Section 8 tenant-based housing assistance, Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income).
In addition, the bill (1) requires questions about food and housing insecurity to be incorporated into the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, and (2) establishes a grant program to support research and address incidences of food and housing insecurity among college students.
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand the eligibility 
  of students to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance 
   program, establish college student food insecurity demonstration 
                   programs, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Student Food 
Security Act of 2021''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
     TITLE I--STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Sec. 101. Eligibility of students to participate in the supplemental 
                            nutrition assistance program.
Sec. 102. Communication of information on student eligibility for 
                            nutrition assistance programs.
Sec. 103. Demonstration program.
Sec. 104. Effective date.
               TITLE II--REDUCING STUDENT FOOD INSECURITY

Sec. 201. Data sharing.
Sec. 202. Questions on food and housing insecurity in national 
                            postsecondary student aid study.
Sec. 203. Grants to address student basic needs.

     TITLE I--STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

SEC. 101. ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL 
              NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Definition of Household.--Section 3(m)(4) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(m)(4)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(4) In no event'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(4) Institution or boarding house.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), in no event''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Students.--An individual (including any 
                dependents of the individual) may constitute a 
                household if the individual is a student and resident 
                of an institution of higher education (as defined in 
                section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1002)).''.
    (b) Eligibility of Students.--Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``qualifications 
        and'' after ``eligibility'';
            (2) in subsection (d)(2)(C)--
                    (A) by inserting ``who is'' after ``student''; and
                    (B) by striking ``(except'' and all that follows 
                through ``section)'' and inserting ``and meets the 
                requirements for eligibility under subsection (e)''; 
                and
            (3) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B), by redesignating 
                        clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and 
                        (II), respectively, and indenting 
                        appropriately; and
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
                        through (D) as clauses (i) through (iv), 
                        respectively, and indenting appropriately;
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by redesignating 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), 
                respectively, and indenting appropriately;
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (8) as 
                subparagraphs (A) through (H), respectively, and 
                indenting appropriately;
                    (D) in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking ``20'' and inserting ``10'';
                    (E) in subparagraph (E)(ii) (as so redesignated), 
                by striking ``paragraph (4)'' and inserting 
                ``subparagraph (D)'';
                    (F) in subparagraph (G) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking ``or'' at the end after the semicolon;
                    (G) in subparagraph (H) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking the period at the end and inserting a 
                semicolon;
                    (H) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so 
                redesignated), by striking ``(e) No individual'' and 
                all that follows through ``individual--'' and inserting 
                the following:
    ``(e) Qualifications for Students.--A student enrolled in any 
recognized school, training program, or institution of higher education 
(as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1002)) shall be eligible to participate in the supplemental 
nutrition assistance program if--
            ``(1) the student satisfies the other requirements of this 
        section; and
            ``(2) the student--''; and
                    (I) in paragraph (2) (as so designated), by adding 
                at the end the following:
                    ``(I) is eligible to participate in a State or 
                federally financed work study program, including the 
                program authorized under part C of title IV of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087-51 et 
                seq.);
                    ``(J)(i) is not an independent student (as defined 
                in section 480(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(d))); and
                    ``(ii)(I) has an expected family contribution or 
                student aid index of not more than $0, as determined in 
                accordance with part F of title IV of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087kk et seq.); or
                    ``(II) meets the financial eligibility criteria for 
                receiving a maximum Federal Pell Grant under subpart 1 
                of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.)--
                            ``(aa) regardless of whether the student 
                        has completed the Free Application for Federal 
                        Student Aid described in section 483 of that 
                        Act (20 U.S.C. 1090); and
                            ``(bb) as determined by a State using the 
                        income of the student, as determined under--
                                    ``(AA) the supplemental nutrition 
                                assistance program or another Federal 
                                or State means-tested program; or
                                    ``(BB) another reasonable 
                                simplifying assumption; or
                    ``(K)(i) is an independent student (as defined in 
                section 480(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1087vv(d))); and
                    ``(ii) is a member of a household otherwise 
                eligible to participate in the supplemental nutrition 
                assistance program.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 6(d)(2)(C) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(2)(C)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``half time'' and inserting ``half-time''; 
        and
            (2) by inserting ``(as determined by the school, training 
        program, or institution of higher education, as applicable)'' 
        before ``(except''.

SEC. 102. COMMUNICATION OF INFORMATION ON STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR 
              NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) College student.--The term ``college student'' means a 
        student enrolled in an institution of higher education.
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1002).
            (3) Program.--The term ``program'' means the supplemental 
        nutrition assistance program established under the Food and 
        Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
    (b) Strategies Report.--Not later than 180 days after the effective 
date of this title, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
that describes the strategy to be used by the Secretary--
            (1) to increase the awareness of State agencies and 
        institutions of higher education about--
                    (A) college student food insecurity;
                    (B) the eligibility of college students for the 
                program; and
                    (C) the procedures and resources available to 
                college students who are not participating in the 
                program to access benefits under the program;
            (2) to identify--
                    (A) existing or potential informational, 
                educational, policy, and psychological barriers to 
                enrolling in the program and barriers to complying with 
                program requirements;
                    (B) mitigation strategies with respect to those 
                barriers; and
                    (C) opportunities for collaboration with the 
                Department of Education and other relevant Federal 
                agencies; and
            (3) to update the State Outreach Plan Guidance under 
        subsection (c).
    (c) Updated State Outreach Plan Guidance.--Not later than 90 days 
after the Secretary submits to Congress a report under subsection (b), 
the Secretary shall publish an updated State Outreach Plan Guidance 
that--
            (1) describes existing data on college student food 
        insecurity;
            (2) describes the manner in which college students can 
        access the supplemental nutrition assistance program;
            (3) recommends outreach activities to address college 
        student food insecurity and encourages States to conduct those 
        and other outreach activities;
            (4) provides a template for a State to submit information 
        to the Secretary describing the outreach activities being 
        carried out by the State to address college student food 
        insecurity; and
            (5) contains updated guidance based on the contents of that 
        report.

SEC. 103. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

    Section 17 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(o) College Student Food Insecurity Demonstration Program.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) College student.--The term `college student' 
                means a student enrolled in an institution of higher 
                education.
                    ``(B) Demonstration program.--The term 
                `demonstration program' means the demonstration program 
                established under paragraph (2).
                    ``(C) Institution of higher education.--The term 
                `institution of higher education'--
                            ``(i) has the meaning given the term in 
                        section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                        (20 U.S.C. 1001); and
                            ``(ii) includes a postsecondary vocational 
                        institution (as defined in section 102 of the 
                        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)).
            ``(2) Demonstration program.--Pursuant to subsection (b), 
        the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of 
        Education, shall establish a demonstration program under which 
        the Secretary shall carry out demonstration projects in 
        accordance with paragraph (3)--
                    ``(A) to decrease student food insecurity at 
                institutions of higher education; and
                    ``(B) to reduce barriers to college students fully 
                utilizing supplemental nutrition assistance program 
                benefits at institutions of higher education.
            ``(3) Demonstration projects.--To carry out the 
        demonstration program, the Secretary shall carry out 
        demonstration projects that test the following new supplemental 
        nutrition assistance program delivery methods:
                    ``(A) Allowing a college student receiving 
                supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits--
                            ``(i) to use those benefits to purchase 
                        prepared foods from a campus dining hall, on-
                        campus store, or other on-campus merchant or 
                        provider that typically sells prepared meals 
                        and participates in the student meal program at 
                        the institution of higher education at which 
                        the student is enrolled; and
                            ``(ii) to be exempt from requirements to 
                        purchase a campus meal plan as part of the 
                        attendance of the college student at the 
                        institution of higher education.
                    ``(B) Allowing a college student to use an EBT card 
                or a campus-specific card at any of the locations 
                described in subparagraph (A)(i) or a retailer 
                authorized under section 9.
            ``(4) Project limit.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out 
                not more than 10 demonstration projects under the 
                demonstration program simultaneously.
                    ``(B) Institutions.--The Secretary shall carry out 
                not more than 1 demonstration project under the 
                demonstration program at any single institution of 
                higher education.
            ``(5) Priority.--In selecting an institution of higher 
        education at which to carry out a demonstration project, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to an institution of higher 
        education--
                    ``(A) at which not less than 25 percent of enrolled 
                students are students that are eligible to receive a 
                Federal Pell Grant under subpart 1 of part A of title 
                IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a 
                et seq.); or
                    ``(B) that is described in section 371(a) of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
            ``(6) Project administration.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish 
                criteria and parameters for selecting, operating, 
                monitoring, and terminating each demonstration project 
                under the demonstration program.
                    ``(B) Prices charged.--The Secretary shall ensure 
                that prices charged by food providers participating in 
                a demonstration project under the demonstration program 
                are comparable to prices charged by those food 
                providers prior to participation.
            ``(7) Project termination.--To the maximum extent 
        practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that the termination of 
        a demonstration project under the demonstration program shall 
        not cause sudden adverse changes, including a reduction of 
        institutional financial aid or the elimination of benefits 
        under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, for 
        students participating in the demonstration project.
            ``(8) Program termination.--The demonstration program shall 
        terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date on which 
        the demonstration program is established.
            ``(9) Evaluation.--For the duration of the demonstration 
        program, the Secretary shall, in collaboration with the 
        Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, conduct an 
        annual evaluation of each demonstration project carried out 
        under the demonstration program during the year covered by the 
        evaluation, including an analysis of the extent to which the 
        project is meeting the desired outcomes, which include 
        reduction in food insecurity and improved academic performance.
            ``(10) Report.--For the duration of the demonstration 
        program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
        Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and Health, Education, 
        Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committees on 
        Agriculture and Education and Labor of the House of 
        Representatives an annual report that includes--
                    ``(A) a description of each demonstration project 
                carried out under the demonstration program during the 
                year covered by the report;
                    ``(B) the evaluation conducted under paragraph (9); 
                and
                    ``(C) recommendations for legislation to improve 
                the supplemental nutrition assistance program to better 
                serve college students.
            ``(11) Waiver and modification authority.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Secretary may, as may be necessary solely to carry out 
                the demonstration program--
                            ``(i) waive any provision under this Act, 
                        including--
                                    ``(I) the requirement relating to 
                                local sales tax under section 4(a);
                                    ``(II) requirements relating to the 
                                issuance and use of supplemental 
                                nutrition assistance program benefits 
                                under section 7; and
                                    ``(III) requirements for approval 
                                of retail food stores under section 9; 
                                and
                            ``(ii) modify the definitions under this 
                        Act for the purposes of the demonstration 
                        program, including the definition of--
                                    ``(I) the term `food' under section 
                                3(k);
                                    ``(II) the term `household' under 
                                section 3(m); and
                                    ``(III) the term `retail food 
                                store' under section 3(o).
                    ``(B) Limitation.--The Secretary may not waive a 
                provision or modify a definition under subparagraph (A) 
                if the waiver or modification will--
                            ``(i) cause increased difficulty for any 
                        household to apply for or access supplemental 
                        nutrition assistance program benefits; or
                            ``(ii) reduce the value of those benefits 
                        for any household.
            ``(12) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are 
        necessary to carry out this subsection.''.

SEC. 104. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect 
on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

               TITLE II--REDUCING STUDENT FOOD INSECURITY

SEC. 201. DATA SHARING.

    (a) Agreement.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary 
of the Treasury, and the head of any other applicable Federal or State 
agency, shall develop and implement an agreement to--
            (1) securely share data among the respective Federal 
        agencies of such Secretaries in order to, notwithstanding 
        section 483(a)(3)(E) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1090(a)(3)(E)), identify students who have applied for 
        Federal financial aid and who are enrolled at institutions of 
        higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) who may be eligible for 
        federally funded programs to support basic needs through--
                    (A) the supplemental nutrition assistance program 
                established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
                U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), a nutrition assistance program 
                carried out under section 19 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
                2028), or a nutrition assistance program carried out by 
                the Secretary of Agriculture in the Northern Mariana 
                Islands;
                    (B) the supplemental security income program under 
                title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et 
                seq.);
                    (C) the program of block grants to States for 
                temporary assistance for needy families under part A of 
                title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et 
                seq.);
                    (D) the special supplemental nutrition program for 
                women, infants, and children established by section 17 
                of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786);
                    (E) the Medicaid program under title XIX of the 
                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.);
                    (F) Federal housing assistance programs, including 
                tenant-based assistance under section 8(o) of the 
                United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)), 
                and public housing, as defined in section 3(b)(1) of 
                such Act (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(1));
                    (G) Federal child care assistance programs, 
                including assistance under the Child Care and 
                Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et 
                seq.) and the Child Care Access Means Parents in School 
                Program under section 419N of the Higher Education Act 
                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070e);
                    (H) the free and reduced price school lunch program 
                established under the Richard B. Russell National 
                School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.);
                    (I) refundable credit for coverage under a 
                qualified health plan under section 36B of the Internal 
                Revenue Code of 1986;
                    (J) the Earned Income Tax Credit under section 32 
                of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
                    (K) the Child Tax Credit under section 24 of the 
                Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or
                    (L) any other federally funded program determined 
                by the Secretary to be appropriate; and
            (2) coordinate efforts to provide assistance to 
        institutions of higher education to facilitate the enrollment 
        of eligible students in the programs listed in paragraph (1).
    (b) Information on Federally Funded Programs To Support Basic 
Needs.--
            (1) In general.--Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
    ``(i) Information on Federally Funded Programs To Support Basic 
Needs.--
            ``(1) In general.--For each year for which a student 
        described in paragraph (3) submits an application for Federal 
        student financial aid, the Secretary shall send, in written and 
        electronic form, to such student information regarding 
        potential eligibility for assistance under, and application 
        process for--
                    ``(A) the supplemental nutrition assistance program 
                under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 
                et seq.);
                    ``(B) the supplemental security income program 
                under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
                1381 et seq.);
                    ``(C) the program of block grants to States for 
                temporary assistance for needy families under part A of 
                title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et 
                seq.);
                    ``(D) the special supplemental nutrition program 
                for women, infants, and children established by section 
                17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786);
                    ``(E) the Medicaid program under title XIX of the 
                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.);
                    ``(F) Federal housing assistance programs, 
                including tenant-based assistance under section 8(o) of 
                the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
                1437f(o)), and public housing, as defined in section 
                3(b)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(1));
                    ``(G) Federal child care assistance programs, 
                including assistance under the Child Care and 
                Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et 
                seq.) and the Child Care Access Means Parents in School 
                Program under section 419N of the Higher Education Act 
                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070e);
                    ``(H) the free and reduced price school lunch 
                program established under the Richard B. Russell 
                National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.);
                    ``(I) refundable credit for coverage under a 
                qualified health plan under section 36B of the Internal 
                Revenue Code of 1986;
                    ``(J) the Earned Income Tax Credit under section 32 
                of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
                    ``(K) the Child Tax Credit under section 24 of the 
                Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or
                    ``(L) any other Federally funded program determined 
                by the Secretary to be appropriate.
            ``(2) Notification.--The notification described in 
        paragraph (1) shall include the appropriate State or Federal 
        resources to which to apply for benefits under each of the 
        programs listed in paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Students.--A student is described in this paragraph 
        if the student, as a result of information submitted on the 
        application for Federal student financial aid, has been 
        determined by the Secretary (in consultation with the heads of 
        applicable Federal agencies) to be potentially eligible for the 
        benefit programs described in paragraph (1).''.
            (2) Consultation.--The Secretary of Education shall consult 
        with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and 
        Human Services, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
        the Secretary of the Treasury, and the head of any other 
        applicable Federal or State agency, in designing the written 
        and electronic communication regarding potential eligibility 
        for assistance under, and application process for, the programs 
        listed in paragraph (1) of section 483(i) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090(i)).
            (3) Effective date and sunset.--This subsection and the 
        amendment made by this subsection is effective beginning on the 
        date that is 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act 
        and ending on June 30, 2023.
    (c) Further Information on Federally Funded Programs To Support 
Basic Needs.--
            (1) In general.--Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965, as amended by section 702 of the FAFSA Simplification Act 
        (title VII of division FF of Public Law 116-260), is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(2)(E)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by striking the period 
                        at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) an authorization under subparagraph 
                        (D) and disclosing the information as described 
                        in clause (ii), the Secretary shall provide the 
                        applicant with notification of the appropriate 
                        Federal or State resources necessary to apply 
                        for Federal and State programs that support 
                        basic needs.''; and
                    (B) in subsection (c)(3)--
                            (i) by striking ``may'' and inserting 
                        ``shall''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, and shall consult 
                        with the heads of applicable Federal agencies 
                        in designing the written and electronic 
                        communication regarding potential eligibility 
                        for assistance under such programs'' after 
                        ``may be eligible''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall take effect as if included in section 702 of the FAFSA 
        Simplification Act (title VII of division FF of Public Law 116-
        260) and subject to the effective date of section 701(b) of 
        such Act.
    (d) Report.--The Secretary of Education, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary 
of the Treasury, and the head of any other applicable Federal or State 
agency, shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that presents 
summary statistics on students who have applied for Federal financial 
aid and who are enrolled at institutions of higher education (as 
defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1002)) and are experiencing student food insecurity and housing 
insecurity, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, income quintile, 
status as a first generation college student, Federal Pell Grant 
eligibility status, disability status, status as a student parent, sex 
(including sexual orientation and gender identity), and other subgroups 
as determined by such heads of agencies.

SEC. 202. QUESTIONS ON FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY IN NATIONAL 
              POSTSECONDARY STUDENT AID STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Education shall permanently add 
validated questions that measure food and housing insecurity and 
homelessness to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study.
    (b) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the date 
that is 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 203. GRANTS TO ADDRESS STUDENT BASIC NEEDS.

    Title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161a) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

            ``PART BB--GRANTS TO ADDRESS STUDENT BASIC NEEDS

``SEC. 899. GRANTS TO ADDRESS STUDENT BASIC NEEDS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Community college.--The term `community college' 
        means a public institution of higher education at which the 
        highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an 
        associate degree, including a 2-year Tribal College or 
        University (as defined in section 316).
            ``(2) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible 
        institution' means an institution of higher education as 
        defined in section 101 or 102(a)(1)(B).
            ``(3) Food insecurity.--The term `food insecurity' means 
        limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and 
        safe foods, or the ability to acquire such foods in a socially 
        acceptable manner. The most extreme form is often accompanied 
        by physiological sensations of hunger.
            ``(4) Housing insecurity.--The term `housing insecurity' 
        means limited or uncertain availability of, or access to, 
        stable, safe, adequate, and affordable housing and 
        neighborhoods. This shall include living in emergency or 
        transitional shelters, motels, hotels, trailer parks, cars, 
        parks, public spaces, or abandoned buildings, and those sharing 
        the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic 
        hardship, or a similar reason.
    ``(b) Planning and Coordination Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award planning and 
        coordination grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible 
        institutions to enable the eligible institutions to conduct 
        research and planning to reduce incidences of student food 
        insecurity and housing insecurity, and to coordinate a response 
        to these challenges, by carrying out the activities described 
        in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Activities.--An eligible institution receiving a 
        grant under this subsection shall use grant funds to carry out 
        the following:
                    ``(A) Establish a student food and housing security 
                steering committee that will be responsible for 
                creating and approving the strategy described in 
                subparagraph (C), and that will be comprised of 
                relevant campus stakeholders, including--
                            ``(i) students who have experienced food 
                        insecurity or housing insecurity;
                            ``(ii) student government representatives;
                            ``(iii) institutional staff representing 
                        the areas of student financial aid, housing, 
                        dining, student affairs, academic advising, 
                        equity support services, accessibility 
                        services, campus security, legal services, and 
                        health and well-being services (including 
                        counseling or psychological services);
                            ``(iv) faculty;
                            ``(v) relevant administrators, including 
                        local human services administrators; and
                            ``(vi) community-based organizations.
                    ``(B) Conduct research regarding--
                            ``(i) the level of student food insecurity 
                        and housing insecurity at the institution, 
                        disaggregated by race and ethnicity, income 
                        quintile, status as a first-generation college 
                        student (as defined in section 402A(h)), 
                        Federal Pell Grant eligibility status, 
                        disability status, status as a student parent, 
                        sex (including sexual orientation and gender 
                        identity), or other subgroup as determined by 
                        the institution;
                            ``(ii) the presence of institutional 
                        barriers and current institutional 
                        interventions to address such barriers;
                            ``(iii) the presence of administrative 
                        barriers for students in applying, certifying 
                        eligibility, and renewing applications for 
                        means-tested benefits, and interventions to 
                        address such barriers;
                            ``(iv) the resources available to address 
                        student food insecurity and housing insecurity, 
                        both on campus and off campus; and
                            ``(v) opportunities for coordination and 
                        collaboration between the institution and 
                        government or community-based organizations, 
                        including--
                                    ``(I) the local or State office 
                                that administers benefits through the 
                                supplemental nutrition assistance 
                                program (SNAP) and SNAP employment and 
                                training programs under the Food and 
                                Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et 
                                seq.) or the temporary assistance for 
                                needy families program (TANF) and 
                                subsidized programs that meet the work 
                                requirements under part A of title IV 
                                of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                601 et seq.);
                                    ``(II) organizations that 
                                participate in the Federal work-study 
                                program under part C of title IV; or
                                    ``(III) low-income housing 
                                assistance organizations, including 
                                those assisting with tenant-based 
                                assistance under section 8(o) of the 
                                United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
                                U.S.C. 1437f(o)), and public housing, 
                                as defined in section 3(b)(1) of such 
                                Act (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(1)).
                    ``(C) Create a strategy that describes how the 
                institution will--
                            ``(i) seek to address student food 
                        insecurity and housing insecurity through on-
                        campus and off-campus providers; and
                            ``(ii) incorporate the research conducted 
                        under subparagraph (B), including with respect 
                        to the subgroups identified under clause (i) of 
                        subparagraph (B), into the strategy.
                    ``(D) Implement the strategy described in 
                subparagraph (C), including by--
                            ``(i) conducting outreach to students to 
                        reduce stigma, educate, and encourage students 
                        to participate in programs and receive services 
                        (including programs and services provided 
                        through grant funding) to reduce student food 
                        insecurity and housing insecurity;
                            ``(ii) educating students about public 
                        assistance programs (including State and local 
                        public assistance programs, and the 
                        supplemental nutrition assistance program under 
                        the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
                        2011 et seq.), Federal housing assistance 
                        programs, and other income-based Federal 
                        assistance programs), supporting students' 
                        applications for those programs, and providing 
                        case management and training for students to 
                        maximize the public assistance that students 
                        receive to reduce student food insecurity and 
                        housing insecurity;
                            ``(iii) coordinating and collaborating with 
                        government or community-based organizations, 
                        such as the local office that administers 
                        benefits through the supplemental nutrition 
                        assistance program under the Food and Nutrition 
                        Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) or a low-
                        income housing assistance organization;
                            ``(iv) hiring and training personnel to 
                        build infrastructure and implement programming 
                        to reduce student food insecurity and housing 
                        insecurity at the eligible institution; and
                            ``(v) carrying out other matters determined 
                        appropriate by the Secretary.
            ``(3) Grant amounts; duration.--
                    ``(A) Amount.--A grant under this subsection shall 
                be in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000.
                    ``(B) Duration.--A grant under this subsection 
                shall be for a period of not more than 5 years.
            ``(4) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit to 
        Congress a report that describes--
                    ``(A) the impact of the grant under this subsection 
                on reducing student food insecurity and housing 
                insecurity, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, income 
                quintile, status as a first-generation college student 
                (as defined in section 402A(h)), Federal Pell Grant 
                eligibility status, disability status, status as a 
                student parent, sex (including sexual orientation and 
                gender identity), and other subgroup as determined by 
                the institution;
                    ``(B) best practices for reducing student food 
                insecurity and housing insecurity, including by 
                identifying institutional and administrative barriers 
                and intervening to address such barriers;
                    ``(C) the obstacles faced by grant recipients;
                    ``(D) State or Federal policy barriers to reducing 
                student food insecurity and housing insecurity at 
                institutions of higher education; and
                    ``(E) information on postsecondary outcomes at the 
                institutions receiving a grant under this section, 
                including--
                            ``(i) the postsecondary attainment rates of 
                        students, including the units of postsecondary 
                        study completed as a percentage of such units 
                        attempted;
                            ``(ii) the transfer rates of students from 
                        community colleges to 4-year institutions of 
                        higher education;
                            ``(iii) the retention rates of students, 
                        either in the institution of higher education 
                        at which the student was first enrolled or in 
                        another institution; and
                            ``(iv) the persistence rates of such 
                        students in higher education.
            ``(5) Best practices.--The Secretary shall disseminate to 
        eligible institutions and relevant government and community-
        based organizations information about best practices, as 
        described in paragraph (4)(B).
    ``(c) Reservation; Priority; Equitable Distribution.--
            ``(1) Reservation.--In awarding grants under subsection 
        (b), the Secretary shall reserve an amount equal to not less 
        than 33 percent of the total amount available for grants under 
        those subsections for grant awards to community colleges.
            ``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under subsection (b), 
        the Secretary shall give priority to the following:
                    ``(A) Eligible institutions with respect to which 
                not less than 25 percent of enrolled students are 
                students that are eligible to receive a Federal Pell 
                Grant under subpart 1 of part A of title IV.
                    ``(B) Eligible institutions that are described in 
                section 371(a).
            ``(3) Equitable distribution.--In awarding grants under 
        subsection (b), the Secretary shall ensure an equitable 
        distribution of grant awards to eligible institutions in States 
        based on State population.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2022 through 2032.''.
                                 <all>
Student Food Security Act of 2021
A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand the eligibility of students to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, establish college student food insecurity demonstration programs, and for other purposes.
Student Food Security Act of 2021
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth