Washington, D.C. – Today, 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, legislation to make sure that people don’t go hungry if criminals and frauds steal their essential benefits. The bill would allow state SNAP agencies to reimburse SNAP recipients for benefits stolen through skimming or other methods.
“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. “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,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng. “That’s why I have fought to help over 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,” 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.”
“Skimming” is a form of fraud that uses illegal devices attached to card processing machines to collect individual’s data. Skimming scams directly copy card and personal identification number (PIN) information from EBT cardholders and then use this stolen data to access EBT accounts and spend SNAP and cash benefits. Thousands of Americans have lost millions of dollars in benefits since mid-2022 due to this scam.
The current legislation allows replacement of benefits stolen between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2024. It also limits replacement to either 1) the full amount stolen or 2) 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, as well as lift the cap on repayment to ensure the replacement is for the full amount stolen. States are currently not permitted to use federal funds to replace stolen benefits after Congress allowed the authority to lapse late last year.
Senator Fetterman introduced this bill with Senators Gillibrand (D-NY), Blumenthal (D-CT), Alsobrooks (D-MD), Wyden (D-OR), and Welch (D-VT).
The full text of the bill is available here.
