U.S. Rep. William Timmons has introduced legislation that would reduce the dollar amount needed to trigger criminal penalties for food assistance fraud.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C., introduced the SNAP Fraud Accountability Act on Sept. 2, according to his office.
The bill would lower the threshold for criminal penalties under the Food and Nutrition Act from $5,000 to $1,000 in fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, according to Timmons’ office.
Under current law, violations involving $5,000 or more in benefits can lead to criminal penalties. Timmons’ office said the legislation is meant to hold people accountable who deliberately defraud the program.
“SNAP exists to help Americans who genuinely need assistance putting food on the table, not to provide an opportunity for criminals to steal from taxpayers,” Timmons said in a statement. “The SNAP Fraud Accountability Act makes clear that if you deliberately defraud a program funded by hardworking Americans, there will be consequences.”
Timmons’ office said the congressman has focused on combating waste, fraud and abuse across the federal government during his time in Congress, and that the new bill builds on that work by strengthening enforcement of existing federal law.
Based on a release from U.S. Rep. William Timmons (SC-04).
