CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

DemocratBill · H.R. 5223· House(119-HR-5223)

RESTORE Act of 2025

Rep. Cohen
Age: 77 years
Tennessee
Introduced
9/9/2025
Last activity
12/5/2025 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
Sponsored by
Steve Cohen
Cosponsors
Democrat - 9Republican - 3
Agriculture and Food
  1. Introduced
  2. In Committee

What this bill would do

This bill is known as the RESTORE Act of 2025. It changes the rules from an older law passed in 1996. The bill allows individuals with drug offenses to receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program. It stops any State law, policy, or regulation from using a controlled substance conviction to deny supplemental nutrition assistance program eligibility. It also modifies the definition of a household under the supplemental nutrition assistance program to include incarcerated individuals who are scheduled to be released from an institution within 30 days.

Yes· 3 of 18

  • Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+8

    Provides direct food assistance to a previously excluded low-income population.

  • Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?+7

    Expands access to SNAP benefits for individuals previously excluded due to drug convictions.

  • Would Black Americans be better off under this?+5

    Addresses disparities in drug-related convictions that have historically limited access to benefits.

The opposite

  • Does this leave more decisions to the states?-3

    Removes the authority of states to restrict SNAP eligibility based on controlled substance convictions.