The Food Assistance Integrity and Responsibility Act requires that electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards used for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) include a photograph of the authorized cardholder on the card's face. Under the bill, individuals can only redeem SNAP benefits using a card bearing their own name and photograph, and retailers must verify the cardholder's identity by inspecting the photo before processing a transaction. The legislation includes an exception allowing caregivers to access benefits on behalf of minors, people with disabilities, or elderly individuals, with specific procedures to be established by the Secretary of Agriculture. The bill does not specify new funding requirements and gives the federal government 18 months after enactment to implement the changes through regulatory updates, with all requirements taking effect 18 months after the law passes.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.