S. 1540: Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025, aims to amend existing legislation regarding the replacement of stolen benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, which are distributed through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Below are the key points of what the bill proposes:

1. Purpose of the Bill

The main goal of the bill is to improve the support provided to individuals whose EBT benefits have been stolen through fraudulent activities, often referred to as "SNAP skimming." The legislation seeks to ensure that those who experience this loss are not left without essential food assistance.

2. Changes to Benefit Replacement

The bill suggests amendments to the replacement process of stolen EBT benefits in the following ways:

• Replacement Amount: The bill specifies that the replacement of stolen EBT benefits should equal the full amount of benefits that were taken from the household. This means that if someone loses their EBT benefits due to skimming, they will be entitled to receive back the exact amount that was stolen.
• Removal of Previous Restrictions: The bill proposes to eliminate certain previous stipulations related to how replacement benefits were calculated. This includes amending specific wording to clarify that the focus is solely on recovering the amount that was stolen.

3. Legislative Process

The bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator John Fetterman, with multiple cosponsors supporting its passage. It has been read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for further consideration and discussion.

4. Conclusion of the Bill’s Intent

The intent behind the Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025 is to enhance the protection and support for low-income households that fall victim to financial fraud affecting their ability to access food assistance. It aims to address the shortcomings in the current provisions for replacing stolen EBT benefits.

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