Fong introduces bill to fight EBT theft and fraud 

Rep. Vince Fong (R–Bakersfield) has proposed a bill to crack down on EBT theft.

Rep. David Valadao (R–Hanford), Rep. Young Kim (R–Anaheim Hills) and Rep. Addison McDowell (R–NC) co-sponsored the bill.

The big picture: The Stopping Klepto-card and Identity Misuse (SKIM) Act would order the U.S. Attorney General to coordinate federal, state and local efforts against access device fraud. • EBT criminals would also face increased prison sentences for using fake-cards or ID-making tools, under the bill, and it would require comprehensive best practices to help identify and prevent future fraud.

Why it matters: Around $440 million in EBT benefits have been stolen since 2021 in California alone, with the theft increasing from less than $100,000 per month to over $10 million. • EBT thieves