WASHINGTON D.C. – Another piece of legislation has been filed in Washington, D.C. to replace stolen SNAP benefits.
The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY-06) and Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) is titled the Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act.
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Lawmakers filed the bill on April 30.
Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act by Gage Goulding on Scribd
The legislation comes just weeks after Houston’s Rep. Al Green filed the SNAP SECURE Act of 2025, inspired by KPRC 2 Investigative reporting into a crime known as ‘SNAP Skimming.’
The crime targets benefits meant to put food on the table through the largest food assistance program in the country.
“No family in America should go hungry because criminals are stealing their SNAP benefits through skimming,” said Congressman Lawler. “This bipartisan bill will give states the tools needed to make victims whole and ensures tax dollars support hardworking families, not thieves. I’m proud to work with Senators Fetterman and Gillibrand to introduce this common-sense solution.”
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The bipartisan bill filed last week will allow state SNAP agencies to reimburse SNAP recipients for benefits stolen through skimming or other methods.
Federal funding, that was used to replace stolen benefits, dried up in December 2024.
“SNAP is a critical lifeline for millions of Pennsylvanians. It is despicable that thieves are targeting hungry families, literally taking food from a baby’s mouth,” said Senator Fetterman.
“SNAP is a lifeline for thousands of New Yorkers. Stealing these benefits from hungry families is unconscionable,” added Congresswoman Grace Meng.
SNAP skimming is on the rise, likely in part to the lack of security on SNAP cards across the country.
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Right now, SNAP cards use a magnetic strip and pin number to verify the transaction. It’s information the that U.S. Secret Service says is very easy to steal.
“There appears to be a recent uptick. However, it has always been a problem,” said U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Matthew Connolly. “I think it’s more prevalent now where we’re noticing it more. Point of sale overlay devices or deep insert ATM skimmers are a trend that’s catching on nationally.”
Only California has rolled out a card that has an EMV chip in the card, which is more secure.
Texas is still working on a chip card and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission would not elaborate on a timeline for when the Lone Star card, the state’s SNAP card, would be rolled out with a chip.
SNAP skimming has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $380 million over the last year and a half, according to data from the USDA.