H.R. 3700 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Education and Workforce, Jun 4, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryProtects summer food benefits from theft
Summer EBT is a program that gives eligible families electronic cards loaded with money to buy groceries during summer months. This bill requires the government to set up fraud prevention measures—like catching card skimming and cloning—and to replace any Summer EBT benefits that get stolen. It also directs federal agencies to issue guidance on security measures and coordinate with other departments to prevent theft and establish standard ways of reporting it.
How it affects you
If you're in a household with eligible children receiving Summer EBT benefits, this bill protects your family's groceries from being stolen through fraud. If your benefits do get stolen, the state would be required to replace the full amount so your family can still buy food. A government report will also examine the security of the program to identify and reduce risks.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jun 4, 2025)
Mitigating Electronic Access Losses for Students Act of 2025 or the MEALS Act of 2025
This bill requires the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to prescribe fraud prevention measures for the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (or Summer EBT) program and provide for the replacement of the full amount of a student's stolen benefits. Summer EBT provides electronic benefits that can be redeemed for groceries to households with eligible children over the summer months.
Specifically, using funds provided by FNS, a participating state agency must provide a household with replacement Summer EBT benefits if the state agency determines that the benefits were stolen, and the agency meets certain requirements. The benefits must be equal to the amount of benefits stolen through card skimming, card cloning, or similar fraudulent methods.
Further, for state agencies and Indian tribal organizations that administer the Summer EBT program, FNS must
• issue guidance on security measures that are effective in detecting and preventing the theft of benefits (e.g., through card skimming or card cloning), and
• promulgate regulations to require them to take the appropriate security measures and implement procedures for the replacement of benefits.
In addition, FNS must coordinate with the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to establish (1) measures to prevent Summer EBT benefits from being stolen, and (2) standard reporting methods.
Finally, the Government Accountability Office must submit a report to Congress that examines the risks related to Summer EBT benefit payment system security.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 3700
A BILL
MEALS Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) · Introduced Jun 4, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jun 4, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.”