Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan of Virginia urged Congress to protect vulnerable Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) families today.
In a letter to House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Chair Andy Harris of Maryland and Ranking Member Sanford Bishop of Georgia, McClellan called for an extension to the SNAP benefit replacement authority.
SNAP theft has increased every quarter in 2024 with the largest increase in the third quarter, when SNAP theft incidents increased by more than 100,000. In November 2024, residents of Virginia’s Fourth District experienced a troubling increase in stolen SNAP benefits, with Richmond seeing a 2,000 percent increase in reported cases of benefit theft.
“SNAP families depend on these benefits to cover a significant portion of their monthly food budget, and losing them leads to devastating consequences. Many low-income households now face impossible choices between putting food on the table or paying essential bills. In some cases, parents skip meals to ensure their children have enough to eat. Indeed, local food pantries and non-profit organizations reported a steep uptick in demand for food assistance within their communities. While these organizations have stepped up to support their neighbors, they cannot address the crisis alone,” McClellan wrote in her letter.
In the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, Congress authorized states to use federal funds to replace SNAP benefits stolen from participants through card skimming, card cloning and other similar methods. Absent congressional action, the authority will end on December 20, 2024, when the Continuing Appropriations and Extension Act of 2025 expires.
“As local and state entities work to investigate theft incidents and replenish funds, Congress must do its part and extend the authority for SNAP benefit replacement. Without this authority, families affected by theft and fraud later this month – and in the months to come – will be deprived of the assistance they deserve and face prolonged and unnecessary hardship,” McClellan wrote.
McClellan spoke on the U.S. House floor to raise awareness of SNAP theft and reiterate her call to extend the authority and protect vulnerable families. She cosponsors H.R. 205, the SNAP Theft Protection Act, to reimburse victims of food stamp theft.
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Rebecca Barnabi
