Three politicians from the northeast United States have introduced an act to protect families relying on SNAP benefits if their funds are stolen.
U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY-06), and Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) introduced the Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act.
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This legislation aims to ensure that individuals and their families do not go hungry if criminals steal their essential benefits.
The bill would allow state SNAP agencies to reimburse recipients for benefits stolen through skimming or other fraudulent methods.
“Skimming” refers to a form of fraud that uses illegal devices attached to card processing machines to collect individuals’ data.
Skimming scams directly copy card and personal identification number (PIN) information from EBT cardholders, allowing criminals to access EBT accounts and spend SNAP and cash benefits.
Thousands of Americans have fallen victim to these schemes over the last year, and the issue has impacted many families across Houston. Over the last weeks, KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding has reported on SNAP skimming in the Houston area.
The current legislation allows for the replacement of benefits stolen between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2024. It also limits replacement to either the full amount stolen or two months of benefits, whichever is less. The Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act would permanently extend this provision to ensure state agencies continue to replace benefits and lift the cap on repayment to ensure the replacement is for the full amount stolen.
Currently, states are not permitted to use federal funds to replace stolen benefits after Congress allowed the authority to lapse late last year.
In a statement announcing the proposed legislation, Senator Fetterman, Congresswoman Meng and Congressman Lawler each explained why this move is important to their constituents:
“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,” Senator Fetterman said. “We can’t let vulnerable children go hungry because of these criminals. I’m committed to doing everything in my power to protect and extend SNAP benefits. We need to make sure American families get fed – this bill is a critical step in doing just that.”
“SNAP is a lifeline for thousands of New Yorkers. Stealing these benefits from hungry families is unconscionable,” Congresswoman Meng said. “That’s why I have fought to help nearly 85,000 New Yorkers recover more than $39.9 million in SNAP benefits. However, beneficiaries in Queens and communities across the country continue to be targeted by scammers looking to steal their benefits. Since 2022, Congress has made sure that victims of this crime don’t go hungry. However, late last year, Congress failed to extend this provision. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan, bicameral bill to ensure that no one who relies on SNAP to put food on the table goes hungry because their benefits were stolen by bad faith actors.”
“No family in America should go hungry because criminals are stealing their SNAP benefits through skimming,” Congressman Lawler said. “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.”
Senator Fetterman introduced this bill with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Peter Welch (D-VT).