Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis and New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton have announced a bipartisan initiative aimed at addressing fraud within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), particularly involving Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. This effort responds to increasing incidents of SNAP theft, which totaled over $320 million between October 2022 and December 2024, largely due to card skimming and cloning.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has encouraged states to use EMV chip technology in EBT cards to reduce fraud, but only two states have adopted these enhanced security measures so far. In California, where EMV chips were implemented, there was an 83% decrease in stolen SNAP reimbursements.
At the federal level, Congresswoman Malliotakis has introduced H.R. 7316, known as the SNAP Payment Security and Fraud Prevention Act of 2026. The bill would require all states to adopt EMV chip technology for EBT cards by 2030 and phase out magnetic stripes. It also proposes tougher penalties for SNAP theft, expands investigative authority for the USDA Inspector General, creates an online portal for recipients to manage benefits, and aims to shorten EBT card replacement times.
Senator Scarcella-Spanton is backing similar legislation at the state level that would mandate EMV chip implementation on SNAP cards by June 21, 2026.
“I am proud to stand with Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton in our shared commitment to combat this rampant fraud impacting our constituents. SNAP is a vital lifeline for thousands of families in our community, and this legislation will modernize the system, strengthen safeguards against abuse, and ensure taxpayer funds are protected and directed to those who truly rely on this program,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.
“The skimming of SNAP benefits has impacted far too many of our constituents, with my office receiving numerous calls from seniors who discovered their SNAP funds were missing after grocery shopping. Our families should not have to skip meals or stretch limited budgets because of a system failure beyond their control. That is why I have co-sponsored Senate Bill S1465, which would require the implementation of EMV technology and bring SNAP cards in line with industry security standards. New York State is actively working to address this shortcoming, as this measure was allocated funding in the 2026 New York State Executive Budget proposal and I encourage other states to do the same. This legislation will get the root of the problem to better protect public assistance funds from theft, protecting families already facing financial hardship. This bipartisan effort alongside Congresswoman Malliotakis will help ensure that New Yorkers approved for SNAP benefits do not have to worry about how they will put food on the table,” said Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton.
Nicole Malliotakis has represented New York’s 11th district in Congress since 2021 after previously serving in the New York State Assembly from 2011 until her election to Congress. She was born in New York City in 1980 and resides in Staten Island. Malliotakis holds degrees from Seton Hall University and Wagner College.
