Arizona’s republican representatives co-sponsored the SNAP Verify Act of 2014. The legislation would amend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by requiring identification when applying for food stamps.
“The SNAP program exists to temporarily help Americans who have fallen on hard times; it is the duty of our elected officials to protect the integrity of this program and discourage abuse from those who seek to game the system,” said Salmon. The bill only requires the photo identification of authorized users of SNAP electronic benefit cards at the point of transaction. Salmon said in statement released last week, “With over $750 million in SNAP card and food trafficking fraud each year, it is time Congress take action to address the rampant waste in this program.”
A 2010 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that fraud is prevalent in the SNAP program with $2.2 billion paid in error during 2009 alone. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated that a mind-blowing $9.1 billion was paid in error from FY2008 to FY2011. Currently, you only have to have proof of identity (not necessarily photo ID) when you are applying for SNAP benefits. While some people use photo identification, this proof can also be accomplished by showing a pay stub, a voter registration card, a health benefits card, a work or school badge, or having the SNAP eligibility worker call shelter workers or employers.
There is no federal requirement to show identification at the point of transaction. A report issued by the House Committee on Appropriations during the 112th Congress found that fraud in SNAP alone can cost $330 million annually. Clearly, there are numerous opportunities for waste and abuse. The SNAP Verify Act of 2014 would mitigate those opportunities and reign in some of these abuses by requiring the photo identification of users claiming this benefit.
USDA, which reviews and disqualifies stores violating the rules of the program, reported that in FY2012, of 15,000 stores reviewed, 1,400 stores were permanently disqualified for exchanging cash for SNAP benefits. Unfortunately, waste and fraud is still widespread throughout the SNAP program and costs taxpayers on average $750 million every year.
“The easiest way to save taxpayer money is to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. The most effective way to accomplish this is to require strict oversight of federal programs,” said Gosar. “As a dentist, I call the current oversight of the SNAP program toothless.
“This bill provides commonsense oversight of a rapidly expanding program by requiring users of SNAP EBT cards to show their photo ID when making purchases. It only makes sense that individuals utilizing federal assistance benefits should verify their identity not only to safeguard taxpayer dollars but also to protect the integrity of the program for those who need it most,” Gosar stated. “It’s time to address rampant waste in the SNAP program.”
Original Cosponsors:
•Matt Salmon (AZ-05)
•Bill Posey (FL-08)
•John Fleming (LA-04)
•Jack Kingston (GA-01)
•Kevin Cramer (ND)
•Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01)
•Paul Gosar (AZ-04)
•Ron DeSantis (FL-06)
•David Schweikert (AZ-06)
•Trent Franks (AZ-08)
•Jason Smith (MO-08)
•Phil Gingrey (GA-11)