Congress expands full restitution for SNAP fraud victims, removes time limits
H.R. 3117 — Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025 · Filed by Grace Meng (D-NY) · 12 cosponsors · Introduced Apr 30, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill amends the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act to expand how SNAP (food assistance) benefits stolen via EBT card skimming are replaced. It changes the replacement formula from a capped or limited amount to the full amount of benefits actually stolen, and removes a sunset provision that would have ended the replacement program. The result: households victimized by EBT fraud get their full stolen benefits back instead of a partial or time-limited replacement.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is to expand restitution for victims of EBT card fraud (skimming). It removes caps and sunset provisions to ensure full replacement of stolen food benefits.
What the text implies
- Removal of subparagraph (C) likely eliminates a sunset date, making the replacement program permanent rather than temporary — a structural shift toward ongoing victim protection.
- Full-amount replacement (rather than capped) may increase administrative burden on USDA/state agencies to verify and process claims, but no appropriation mechanism is visible in this text — implementation depends on cited 2023 CAA provisions.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
Low-income households using SNAP are protected from permanent loss when their EBT cards are skimmed; they receive full restitution of stolen food benefits rather than partial or time-limited replacement. This directly restores purchasing power to vulnerable populations.