Rep. Gosar Co-Sponsors Bill to Reduce Waste in SNAP

Statement

Today, 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."

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