H.R. 7916: Removing Barriers to Basic Needs Act of 2020

116th Congress · introduced 2020-07-31 · Agriculture and Food · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2020-07-31 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Removing Barriers to Basic Needs Act of 2020

Plain summary

Removing Barriers to Basic Needs Act of 2020 This bill modifies eligibility requirements under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to temporarily waive requirements related to the denial of assistance and benefits for certain drug-related convictions. Any state law, policy, or regulation that imposes conditions on eligibility for SNAP and TANF based on an individual's conviction of an offense related to a controlled substance shall have no force or effect until December 31, 2022.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Removing Barriers to Basic Needs Act of 2020

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] · 59 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Steve Cohen (D-TN), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Bill Foster (D-IL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), André Carson (D-IN), John B. Larson (D-CT), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Lori Trahan (D-MA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] reported raising $1.3 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr7916.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr7916 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116