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Hearing Hearing Date: May 9, 2018 10:00 am 2154 Rayburn HOB

Program Integrity for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Subject
Program Integrity for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Date
May 9, 2018
Time
10:00 am
Place
2154 Rayburn HOB
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PURPOSE:
  • To examine waste, fraud, and abuse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and discuss reforms to strengthen its integrity and sustainability.
  • To explore how the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) can more effectively assist states in the program’s administration.
BACKGROUND:
  • SNAP is a federal aid program administered through the Department of Agriculture’s FNS division that offers nutritional assistance to eligible, low-income individuals and families. SNAP recipients meet eligibility requirements to receive monthly benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.
  • In Fiscal Year 2017, SNAP spent $68.1 billion in federal taxpayer dollars for 42.2 million recipients. The FNS issues program regulations for states and authorized retailers that provide benefits, including oversight of retailer fraud, such as trafficking. State agencies determine eligible participants, calculate benefit amounts and issue EBT cards. States must report payment errors to the FNS.
Witnesses and testimonies: Mr. Brandon Lipps

Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service Acting Deputy Undersecretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services
U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Ms. Kathy Larin

Director of Education, Workforce, and Income Security
U.S. Government Accountability Office

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Mr. Sam Adolphsen

Senior Fellow
The Foundation for Government Accountability

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Ms. Stacy Dean

Vice President for Food Assistance Policy
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

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