This bill strengthens federal efforts to combat theft of SNAP (food assistance) benefits and provides compensation to victims. It expands the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Inspector General's authority to investigate and prosecute SNAP benefit theft, including cyber-enabled crimes like card skimming and phishing, and permits coordination with federal law enforcement, the FBI, and state agencies. The legislation authorizes states to use SNAP program funds to reimburse households whose benefits are stolen through no fault of their own, without affecting their monthly benefits or eligibility. Additionally, the bill creates a civil penalty of twice the value of stolen benefits for anyone who unlawfully accesses or transfers SNAP benefits, with recovered funds directed toward reimbursing victims and funding investigations. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to maintain a national reporting database for benefit theft incidents and provide technical assistance to states, with no specific appropriations or implementation timeline specified in the text.
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