A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to pass H.R. 7658 and S. 3949, the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026, or create and enact other legislation to require the implementation of stronger security measures to protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Heather Boyd and 13 co-sponsors

Urges Congress to enact stronger federal cybersecurity protections for SNAP benefits, endorsing the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026 or equivalent measures.

Referred to Human Services

Overview

Bill: HR 583

Session: 2025-2026

Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania

Title: A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to pass H.R. 7658 and S. 3949, the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026, or create and enact other legislation to require the implementation of stronger security measures to protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

Primary purpose: To urge federal action to adopt stronger cybersecurity protections for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, either by enacting H.R. 7658 and S. 3949 or by other legislation that enhances SNAP security.

Key provisions and approach

Policy Objective: Improve the cybersecurity of SNAP benefits to reduce risk of fraud, theft, and disruptions in benefit delivery.

Legislative target: Encourages the federal government to adopt or create robust security measures for SNAP, including the use of stronger authentication, protection of benefit data, tamper-resistant benefit delivery mechanisms, and enhanced monitoring and enforcement.

Endorsed path: Specifically references H.R. 7658 and S. 3949, the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026, as the model for federal action.

Alternative path: Allows for enactment of other federal legislation that achieves comparable strengthening of SNAP cybersecurity if the named bills do not advance.

Who is affected

Primary: SNAP program beneficiaries and states administering SNAP benefits, as well as SNAP vendors and systems handling electronic benefit transfers (EBT) and related technologies.

State policymakers and agencies: Encouraged to support and align with enhanced federal cybersecurity standards for SNAP.

Federal policymakers: Encouraged to consider and pass the referenced bills or equivalent measures.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Nature of action: The resolution is a formal expression of position urging Congress to act; it does not itself implement policy but signals support for specific federal legislation.

Timing: No specific deadline is set within the resolution itself; the measure seeks to influence ongoing federal legislative consideration.

Legislative status: As a state House resolution, it would typically proceed through committee and floor considerations within the Pennsylvania General Assembly. It serves to communicate state priorities to federal lawmakers and may be used to coordinate related advocacy or informational efforts.

Potential impacts

If enacted as proposed, enhanced SNAP cybersecurity could:

Reduce fraud and misuse of EBT benefits.
Improve resilience against cyber threats targeting SNAP data and delivery systems.
Strengthen safeguards around benefit issuance, redemption, and data privacy.

Broader effects may include increased collaboration between state agencies and federal authorities, potential modernization investments in SNAP IT infrastructure, and heightened scrutiny of SNAP security practices.

Summary

HR 583 is a Pennsylvania House resolution that advocates for stronger federal cybersecurity measures to protect SNAP benefits. It specifically endorses H.R. 7658 and S. 3949 (the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026) and allows for alternative federal legislation with equivalent protections. The resolution aims to safeguard SNAP beneficiaries and program integrity by urging Congress to adopt enhanced security standards and implementations for SNAP information systems and benefit delivery. It signals state-level priority on cybersecurity in social assistance programs without directly altering SNAP policy at the state level.