WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Josh Riley (D-NY-19) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) 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.
“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 Rep. 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
The Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2025 expands on Riley’s deep legislative record of working to eliminate hunger, protect Upstate seniors, and ensure local farmers thrive:
- Riley introduced the Social Security Access Act to protect in-person, online, and phone access to Social Security services for rural seniors. June 2025
- He co-sponsored the You Earned It, You Keep It Act to eliminate federal taxes on Social Security benefits and provide a tax cut to more than 188,000 Upstate seniors. April 2025
- He sponsored a bill to increase Medicare reimbursement rates in rural areas, ensuring access to quality health care for Upstate communities. March 2025
- Riley’s office has conducted over 40 mobile office events in the district to help constituents access things like Medicare, Social Security, and more.
- Riley co-led the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act to connect local farmers with community food programs and fight hunger across the district. July 2025
- He fought against a budget plan that would cut billions from the SNAP program, protecting nutrition assistance for Upstate families and kids. May 2025
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