H.R. 7069

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7069 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7069

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand benefits to 
households eligible for Federal and State energy assistance programs, 
and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 14, 2026

Ms. McDonald Rivet introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand benefits to 
households eligible for Federal and State energy assistance 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.

This Act may be cited as the ``Affordable Food and Energy Act of 
2026''.

SEC. 2. HOUSEHOLD ASSISTANCE.

Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is 
amended--
(1) by amending subsection (e)(6)(C)(iv)(I) to read as 
follows:
``(I) In general.--Subject to 
subclause (II), if a State agency 
elects to use a standard utility 
allowance that reflects heating and 
cooling costs, the standard utility 
allowance shall be made available to 
households that received a payment, or 
on behalf of which a payment was made, 
under the Low-Income Home Energy 
Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 
et seq.) or other similar energy 
assistance program, if in the current 
month or in the immediately preceding 
12 months, the household either 
received such a payment, or such a 
payment was made on behalf of the 
household, that was greater than $20 
annually, as determined by the 
Secretary.'', and
(2) by amending subsection (k)(4) to read as follows:
``(4) Third party energy assistance payments.--
``(A) Energy assistance payments.--For purposes of 
subsection (d)(1), a payment made under a State law 
(other than a law referred to in paragraph (2)(G)) to 
provide energy assistance to a household shall be 
considered money payable directly to the household.
``(B) Energy assistance expenses.--For purposes of 
subsection (e)(6), an expense paid on behalf of a 
household under a State law to provide energy 
assistance shall be considered an out-of-pocket expense 
incurred and paid by the household.''.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect July 
4, 2025.
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