RESPONSE TO WAIVERS.

SEC. 851. RESPONSE TO WAIVERS. Section 17(b)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2026(b)(1)), as amended by section 850, is amended by adding at the end the following: “(D) Response to waivers.— “(i) Response.—Not later than 60 days after the date of receiving a request for a waiver under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide a response that— “(I) approves the waiver request; “(II) denies the waiver request and describes any modification needed for approval of the waiver request; “(III) denies the waiver request and describes the grounds for the denial; or “(IV) requests clarification of the waiver request. “(ii) Failure to respond.—If the Secretary does not provide a response in accordance with clause (i), the waiver shall be considered approved, unless the approval is specifically prohibited by this Act. “(iii) Notice of denial.—On denial of a waiver request under clause (i)(III), the Secretary shall provide a copy of the waiver request and a description of the reasons for the denial to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.” .