Roberts Wants Farm Bill to Target SNAP Fraud

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts has indicated he wants to use the farm bill as a way to target fraud in the food stamp program.  Bloomberg makes the interpretation from a statement Roberts made addressing quality control problems within SNAP. The Chairman said “any problems will need to be given a hard look” in the $70 billion program.

Bloomberg reports that the move could endanger the bipartisan support he needs to get the farm bill through Congress.  The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing Thursday focusing on misreporting of costs in the program.  During the 2014 Farm Bill process, a national payment-error rate was reported at 3.2%.

A USDA spokesperson says fraud “should absolutely be part of the discussion,” as "fraud and abuse are problems that threaten the integrity of the program.”

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