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, according to Riley. 

“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 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