U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) issued the following statement after announcing his original co-sponsorship of the SNAP Verify Act of 2014 (H.R.4006). This legislation requires photo identification for authorized users of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards at the point of sale:
“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. 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. It’s time to address rampant waste in the SNAP program.”
BACKGROUND
As spending for the SNAP program rapidly grows – the recently-signed FARRM Bill, for example, reauthorized SNAP at $80 billion per year – so does the difficulty of effective oversight.
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.
Leave a Reply