H.R.3700 - Mitigating Electronic Access Losses for Students Act of 2025; MEALS Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.3700, the MEALS Act of 2025, aims to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The bill focuses on preventing fraud and replacing stolen Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits. It mandates that state agencies and covered Indian Tribal organizations replace stolen benefits and implement security measures.
Expected Effects
The MEALS Act will likely lead to increased security measures for Summer EBT programs. It will also ensure that families who have had their benefits stolen receive replacements. This should reduce the financial burden on low-income families during the summer months.
Potential Benefits
- Provides financial relief to families who have had their Summer EBT benefits stolen.
- Mandates the implementation of security measures to prevent future fraud.
- Requires coordination between various agencies to identify and address vulnerabilities in the EBT system.
- Establishes standard reporting methods for data collection on benefit theft.
- Increases accountability and oversight of Summer EBT programs.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased administrative burden on state agencies and covered Indian Tribal organizations.
- Potential costs associated with implementing new security measures and replacing stolen benefits.
- Possible delays in benefit replacement due to claim validation procedures.
- The effectiveness of the security measures may vary depending on the specific methods used by fraudsters.
- There is a limit on the amount of benefits that can be replaced, which may not fully cover the losses for some families.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). It also aligns with Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8) as it relates to the distribution of federal funds for food assistance programs. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or freedoms.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).