Rep. Mike Lawler Helps Secure Continued Reimbursement for SNAP Theft Victims

By Rockland Daily Staff

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Rep. Mike Lawler, has secured provisions in the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2025 to ensure victims of food stamp (SNAP) theft continue to be reimbursed.

The measure, part of H.R. 9747, passed the House today and extends SNAP protections through December 20, 2024.

Reports of SNAP theft – in which perpetrators use skimming devices to steal SNAP benefits distributed on EBT – are skyrocketing across the nation. States are currently required to replace stolen benefits under a measure included in the 2023 omnibus funding bill passed by Congress at the end of 2022. But that provision was set to expire on September 30. 

“Ensuring that SNAP recipients who have their benefits stolen are made whole is my top priority and is deeply important to New York families,” said Congressman Mike Lawler). “That’s why I joined colleagues in both parties and chambers to introduce the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act to protect these programs from fraud, and it’s why I have been adamant about the need to include SNAP protections in FY25’s appropriations. I was pleased to see these provisions in the CR being voted on this week. We must complete our appropriations work while protecting the most vulnerable in our society.”