Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3117
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T08:08:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025 aims to provide fuller support to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, a federal program that helps low-income individuals and families buy food) by expanding the replacement of benefits stolen through electronic means, such as skimming from Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 501(b)(2) of Division HH of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (codified at 7 U.S.C. 2016a(b)(2)), which governs the replacement of stolen SNAP benefits.
- Specifies that replacement benefits must equal the full amount stolen from the household.
- Removes previous limitations on the amount or duration of replacements, including any caps or restrictions outlined in the original subparagraphs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The original law limited replacement benefits to a maximum of one month's worth or required state-level approvals with partial reimbursements; this bill eliminates those caps and conditions.
- By striking and replacing specific subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), the amendment simplifies the process to ensure automatic full replacement without qualifiers, making it easier for affected households to recover losses from theft like card skimming (a method where thieves illegally capture EBT card data).
Potential Impacts
- On citizens: SNAP recipients who experience theft will receive complete restitution of stolen benefits more readily, reducing financial hardship and food insecurity for vulnerable families.
- On government agencies: State agencies administering SNAP (under U.S. Department of Agriculture oversight) may face increased administrative demands for processing full replacements but could see reduced fraud-related inquiries; federal funding for SNAP remains unaffected in scope.
- On international relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic food assistance policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- SNAP beneficiaries: Primarily low-income households, including families with children, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities, who rely on EBT cards and are most harmed by theft.
- State and federal agencies: Including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state welfare departments responsible for SNAP distribution and fraud prevention.
- Advocacy groups: Organizations focused on hunger relief and consumer protection, such as food banks or anti-poverty nonprofits, which may support or monitor implementation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens protections under federal nutrition law by prioritizing victim restitution, potentially reducing litigation over partial reimbursements; aligns with broader anti-fraud efforts in public benefits programs without creating new enforcement mechanisms.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges, as it expands existing congressional authority over spending and welfare programs under the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Reps. Meng and Lawler) signals cross-aisle agreement on addressing rising EBT theft amid increasing electronic fraud; could influence future appropriations debates on SNAP funding and security enhancements.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (12)
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-30 — PDF (2 pages)