Skip to Content

Press Releases

Lawler, Riley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Cut Red Tape for Seniors on SNAP

Washington, D.C. , August 28, 2025

Washington, D.C. – 8/28/25… Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Josh Riley (NY-19) introduced the Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill to simplify the food stamp program for seniors and individuals with disabilities. 

The legislation cuts through Washington red tape to make it easier for Upstate New Yorkers and families across the country to get the food assistance they need.

“Seniors in the Hudson Valley have spent their lives working hard, raising families, and contributing to their communities. They shouldn’t have to fight through mountains of paperwork just to put food on the table. This bill makes it simpler for older Americans and people with disabilities to get the support they’ve earned, and I’m proud to work across the aisle with Congressman Riley to make that happen,” said Congressman Lawler.

“Folks who worked hard their whole lives shouldn’t have to haul around shoeboxes of receipts or fight through stacks of forms just to put food on the table,” said Congressman Riley. “This bill cuts the red tape, clears the hurdles, and makes it easier for seniors to get the groceries they need.”

The Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2025 modernizes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by:

  • Extending certification periods — Seniors and individuals on fixed incomes would only need to recertify every three years instead of every year. That means fewer trips to the office and less paperwork.
  • Creating a fair medical deduction — States could offer a standard $155 monthly deduction for medical expenses, so seniors don’t have to collect a pile of receipts just to qualify.
  • Making verification easier — States could use existing data from other programs to verify income, cutting red tape and speeding up benefits 

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

###

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.