Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) has introduced legislation that he says would “restore integrity to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, to save $36 billion in taxpayer dollars while ensuring those in need still receive benefits.”

Roberts found all kinds of little ways to cut SNAP spending waste and fraud that adds up to some substantial savings – even though SNAP is exempt from the sequester. He held a press conference on Tuesday to announce the new bill.

“Times are tough right now for millions of Americans and government spending is out of control. We need to ensure that precious taxpayer dollars are getting to those in the greatest need,” Roberts said. “This bill is a package of straightforward, commonsense reforms that have garnered bipartisan support in the past to address, waste, fraud and abuse. We can and should restore integrity to SNAP for those who rely on it while being more responsible to the taxpayer – and we can achieve billions in real savings without ever affecting food on the table.”

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Senator Roberts’ bill, the Improve Nutrition Program Integrity and Deficit Reduction Act will save the taxpayer more than $36 billion over 10 years.

Roberts’ legislation eliminates loopholes, duplicative programs, unnecessary bonuses, and restricts lottery winners from receiving benefits. “SNAP funds should go to hungry families, not to lotto winners or toward union dues,” Roberts said.

Read more and listen to Roberts’ press conference here: Sen. Pat Roberts