In response to a surge in reports of SNAP benefits theft across Houston and Texas, Congressman Al Green has announced the filing of the SNAP SECURE Act of 2025—a new federal legislative proposal aimed at restoring stolen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and improving card security. The announcement came after a months-long investigative series by KPRC 2 News, which highlighted the experiences of Houstonians who had their benefits skimmed—a type of electronic theft where fraudsters clone benefit cards and spend the money thousands of miles away.

Congressman Green credited the KPRC investigation for prompting his legislative action. “I wouldn’t be filing this legislation if not but for the phone call that I got from you,” Green said. “That phone call alerted me to the problem. Because of your investigation, we will be filing this.” The SNAP SECURE Act of 2025 would restore federal funding to reimburse stolen benefits, which dried up in December 2024. Since the expiration of those funds, cases of fraud have skyrocketed.

According to federal data reviewed by KPRC, more than 32,000 cases of stolen SNAP benefits have been reported over the last two years. In Texas alone, losses exceeded $15 million, part of a nationwide fraud amounting to over $220 million in 2023 and 2024. Green also called for a federal investigation into the rising thefts. “The Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General can investigate,” he said. “If there’s something going on that is bigger than we can see, they ought to investigate it.” Investigations revealed that funds were being fraudulently withdrawn and spent in cities far from Texas, including New York City, often within hours of being deposited into Lone Star cards.

One of the key issues enabling the fraud is the outdated technology of the Lone Star card, which lacks the security chip now standard in most debit and credit cards. “That card does not have the chip in it. We have to produce a better card,” Green emphasized. “My hope is that the next allocation of funds will call for cards with a chip, which will make it more difficult for persons to do these ugly, dastardly deeds.” The proposed legislation will be presented for inclusion in the upcoming federal spending bill. If approved, it would reinstate funding to reimburse victims and promote the implementation of chip-enabled SNAP cards for improved security.

• 32,322 reports of stolen SNAP benefits since 2023

• $15+ million lost in Texas due to skimming fraud

• Benefits withdrawn and used in out-of-state locations, including NYC

• 3.5 million Texans rely on SNAP; 1 in 5 in Harris County alone

• Replacement funds ended in December 2024, leaving victims without recourse

Green’s proposal arrives at a time when public pressure is mounting and state agencies are struggling to respond. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission currently has limited means of replacing stolen funds due to the federal reimbursement cutoff. Residents who believe they’ve fallen victim to SNAP fraud can contact Congressman Green’s office at 713-383-9234 for help.