US lawmakers are proactively strengthening the security of SNAP Benefits payment cards due to increasing vulnerability to cybercriminal exploitation.
Bipartisan Senators Fetterman, Wyden, and Cassidy introduced the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act, aiming to enhance protection for low-income Americans dependent on SNAP benefits for essential groceries.
Outdated Security Measures
The proposed legislation mandates the implementation of fraud-resistant chips for SNAP payment cards, a crucial update as the current security measures have not been revised in over a decade.
SNAP benefits, distributed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), serve as a lifeline for nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians and countless others nationwide.
Senator Fetterman, chair of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, expressed concern over cybercrime targeting vulnerable families, stating, “We can’t let families go hungry because of bad faith actors.”
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Securing Real SNAP Benefit Recipients
Senator Wyden emphasized the need for parity between SNAP payment cards and credit cards, condemning the outdated and easily hackable technology that leaves low-income families exposed.
The bill, receiving support from the House of Representatives with a companion bill from Democratic Congressman Andy Kim and Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, outlines a comprehensive plan to safeguard SNAP beneficiaries.
It calls for the USDA to incorporate anti-fraud technology in SNAP payment cards, updating it every five years and ensuring chip-enabled functionality within two years of the new requirements.
Additionally, the USDA will manage a grant program to finance payment machines in small grocery stores capable of accepting the enhanced payment cards.
Senator Cassidy underscored the bill’s mission to protect those genuinely in need, stating, “SNAP is supposed to help the person who is food insecure; it is not supposed to help crooks who steal these benefits.”
The legislation aims to strike a balance by addressing cybersecurity concerns while preserving the vital benefits for individuals and families facing food insecurity.
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