HOUSTON – After weeks of reporting on a growing number of Houstonians who had their SNAP benefits stolen, a solution could be in the works.
Congressman Al Green is filing legislation on Thursday in Washington D.C. that would continue federal funding to replace stolen SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
The money previously used for this part of SNAP dried up in December.
Since then, reports of the fraudulent crime known as “SNAP skimming” have skyrocketed.
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Dozens of people have contacted 2 Helps You after our reporting began with a single mother of three who had nearly every last penny stolen just hours after her monthly assistance was deposited onto her Lone Star card, administered by the Texas Health and Human Services.
Ove the last two years, 32,322 claims of stolen SNAP benefits have been files, according to federal data obtained and reviewed by KPRC 2.
On Tuesday, Congressman Al Green announced he will be filing the SNAP SECURE Act of 2025.
“I have in my hand a piece of legislation that I’ll be filing on Thursday,“ Rep. Green said. ”And if I can be very candid with you, I like to be honest to the extent that a person can be. I wouldn’t be filing this legislation if not but for the phone call that I got from you. That phone call alerted me to the problem. I’m honored to tell you that because of your investigation, we will be filing this.”
SNAP SECURE Act of 2025 by Gage Goulding on Scribd
Related Story: Houston single mom’s SNAP benefits stolen; state says they can’t replace them
Nearly one in every five people who live in Harris County received SNAP benefits in March. Across the state, more than 3.5 million people rely on the assistance to put food on the table.
Investigations by KPRC 2 revealed that money stolen from Houston-area victims was being spent more than a thousand miles away in New York City.
“I’m also going to ask that there be an investigation. The Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General can investigate,“ Rep. Green said. ”If there’s something going on that is bigger than we can see, then they ought to investigate and make sure that that thing is either stopped or they say, ‘No.’”
SNAP skimming occurs in the same way that criminals steal credit card information. A device is attached to a credit card terminal, capturing information that allows the wrong actors to create a duplicate of your SNAP card.
Unlike modern debit and credit cards, SNAP cards do not have the electronic chip in them, which increases the overall security of the card.
“It says to me that we have to produce a better card,“ Rep. Green said. ”That card does not have the chip in it. We have to have a card with a chip in. My hope is that the next allocation of funds will call for cards with the chip, which will make it more difficult for persons to do these ugly, dastardly deeds.”
In 2023 and 2024, more than $220 million across the country was reported stolen as a result of SNAP skimming.
In Texas, that number exceeds $15 million between 2024-24.
As the window of replacement came to a close in December 2024, the number of cases skyrocketed.
While an investigation can help stop some of these bad actors, increasing security will prevent them from getting your information in the first place.
If the SNAP SECURE Act of 2025 is approved by lawmakers, it would be included in the new federal spending bill.
If you’ve fallen victim to SNAP Skimming, you can reach Congressman Al Green’s office at 713-383-9234 for assistance.
