March 7, 2024 10:40 a.m.  

On Thursday, Senators Ron Wyden, Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman and Louisiana Republican Bill Cassidy introduced the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act to upgrade the security of electronic benefit cards and protect families in need from thieves that have stolen millions worth of essential food benefits.

Representatives Democrat Andy Kim of New Jersey and Republican Make Lawler of New York are leading the bill in the House of Representatives.

A release from Wyden said to date, millions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits have been stolen by criminals exploiting lax security of SNAP electronic benefit cards. Wyden said Congress has spent years pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to require states to issue cards with secure chips rather than magnetic strips that can be easily cloned by criminals. Despite those requests, USDA has failed to update security regulations for benefit cards, according to Wyden.

Wyden said, “There’s no excuse for this two-tier system, where families in need are struck with outdated, easily hackable technology while folks with credit and ATM cards are better protected. Inaction is not good enough for families, not when it can be the difference between a family in need having food for dinner or going hungry”.

The full text of the legislation is linked: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/enhanced_cybersecurity_for_snap_act_text.pdf