H.R. 6313 – Combating Hunger for Older Americans During Coronavirus Crisis Act of 2020

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 11:34 AM UTC

The Combating Hunger for Older Americans During Coronavirus Crisis Act of 2020 expands emergency nutrition assistance for seniors and disabled individuals during the COVID‑19 pandemic. It broadens eligibility for home‑delivered meals to anyone 60 or older, or disabled, who cannot leave home because of quarantine or social‑distancing. It also lets states reallocate all of their nutrition program funds between home‑delivered and congregate services if needed, and temporarily waives some meal‑program rules to speed up aid.

Key Provisions

During the COVID‑19 emergency (from the bill’s enactment until September 31, 2020), states must treat anyone 60 years or older, or any disabled person, who is homebound because of quarantine, social‑distancing, or other pandemic restrictions as eligible for home‑delivered nutrition services under the Older Americans Act.
If a state shows that its 2020 Older Americans Act nutrition funds are not enough to meet needs, the Assistant Secretary for Aging may let the state move up to 100 % of those funds between the home‑delivered and congregate nutrition program categories without prior approval.
The Assistant Secretary for Aging will waive certain regulatory requirements for emergency meals (specifically clauses (i) and (ii) of section 339(2)(A) of the Older Americans Act) for the duration of the emergency period.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education and Workforce Committee

March 19, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 19, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Education and Workforce Committee

March 19, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 19, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6313

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 19, 2020

Ms. Wild (for herself and Mr. David P. Roe of Tennessee) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To provide for additional emergency nutrition assistance under the Older Americans Act of 1965 in fiscal year 2020 to respond to the declared COVID-19 public health emergency, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Combating Hunger for Older Americans During Coronavirus Crisis Act of 2020.

2.

Home delivered nutrition services criteria applicable under the Older Americans Act of 1965 during fiscal year 2020 to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency

For purposes of State agencies determining the delivery of nutrition services under subpart 2 of part C of title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030f et seq.), during the portion of COVID-19 public health emergency declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) that occurs in the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on September 31, 2020, the State agency shall include among individuals receiving such delivery because they are homebound an individual age 60 and older, or an individual with a disability (of any age), who is unable to obtain nutrition because the individual is under a quarantine, practicing social distancing, or otherwise unable to leave home, due to the emergency.

3.

Congregate nutrition services criteria applicable under the Older Americans Act of 1965 during fiscal year 2020 to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency

If a State demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Assistant Secretary (as defined in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002), that funds received by the State and attributable to funds appropriated under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 303(b) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3023(b)), including funds transferred under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of such section without regard to the exception referring to subparagraph (B) specified in such subparagraph (A), for fiscal year 2020 are insufficient to satisfy the need for services under subpart I or subpart II of part C of title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030d–2 et seq.) in fiscal year 2020 during the COVID-19 public health emergency declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d), the Assistant Secretary shall allow State and area agencies on aging, without prior approval, to transfer up to 100 percent of the funds so received between subpart 1 and subpart 2 of such part C for use the State or area agency on aging considers appropriate to meet the needs of the area served.

4.

Waiver

To facilitate implementation of subparts 1 and 2 of part C of title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030e et seq.) during any portion of the COVID-19 public health emergency declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) that occurs in the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on September 31, 2020, the Assistant Secretary for Aging shall waive the requirements for emergency meals to comply with the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of section 339(2)(A) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030g–21(2)(A)).