To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center located in Northport, New York, as the Navy (SEAL) Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy VA Medical Center, and for other purposes.

House Bill

H.R. 5643

119th Congress

To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center located in Northport, New York, as the Navy (SEAL) Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy VA Medical Center, and for other purposes.

In Committee

Introduced:Sep 30, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Ann Kuster

D - NH

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Summary

This bill makes it easier for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It allows them to sign their SNAP application by gesturing on a video phone, instead of requiring a recorded verbal signature. It also lets state agencies document a telephonic signature in writing, rather than requiring an audio recording.

Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture.

Introduced9/30/2025

StatusReferred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

See this page through your district lens

Enter ZIP to personalize representatives and vote context.

Stay on top of this issue

Subscribe for weekly bill and representative updates.

Vote Prediction

To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center located in Northport, New York, as the Navy (SEAL) Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy VA Medical Center, and for other purposes.

This bill makes it easier for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It allows them to sign their SNAP application by gesturing on a video phone, instead of requiring a recorded verbal signatur

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

0%

0 predictions

This bill makes it easier for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It allows them to sign their SNAP application by gesturing on a video phone, instead of requiring a recorded verbal signature. It also lets state agencies document a telephonic signature in writing, rather than requiring an audio recording.

Bill Number: 5643
Introduced: 9/30/2025
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Policy Area: Agriculture and Food

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center located in Northport, New York, as the Navy (SEAL) Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy VA Medical Center, and for other purposes.
Bill Number: 5643
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced: 9/30/2025
Summary: This bill makes it easier for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It allows them to sign their SNAP application by gesturing on a video phone, instead of requiring a recorded verbal signature. It also lets state agencies document

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill makes it easier for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It allows them to sign their SNAP application by gesturing on a video phone, instead of requiring a recorded verbal signature. It also lets state agencies document a telephonic signature in writing, rather than requiring an audio recording.

Last updated: 12/29/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Streamlining Nutrition Paperwork Act of 2023 or the SNP Act of 2023This bill allows state agencies to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications by video phone or a simplified telephonic system. Specifically, a state agency may establish a system to allow applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing (referred to as hearing-impaired under the bill) to sign a submitted SNAP application by gesture over a video phone. (Currently, a state agency may allow for a telephonic signature through a recorded verbal assent.)The bill also specifies that, for a video phone or telephonic signature, the current recording system requirement may be satisfied through an audio recording or in writing. (During 2020 and 2021, the Food and Nutrition Service provided waivers to certain state agencies which allowed the state agency to document in writing that an applicant verbally signed the application, instead of requiring an audio recording.)

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Allows state agencies to accept SNAP applications by video phone or simplified telephonic system from applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing
Permits a video phone or telephonic signature, which can be documented in writing instead of requiring an audio recording
Provides more accessible options for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to apply for SNAP benefits

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would make the SNAP application process more accessible and inclusive for the approximately 48 million Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing. By enabling video phone and simplified telephonic options, it reduces barriers that have historically made it difficult for this community to apply for critical food assistance.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Related Subjects

Business records

Food assistance and relief

Government information and archives

Poverty and welfare assistance

Telephone and wireless communication

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

5643, 119th Congress (2025). "To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center located in Northport, New York, as the Navy (SEAL) Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy VA Medical Center, and for other purposes.". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-5643

Public Opinions

Community submissions related to this bill.

Share your opinion

No public opinions yet. Be the first to submit one for this bill.

Related Bills in Agriculture and Food

S 1385

Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

SRES 143

A resolution supporting the designation of May 29, 2025, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day" to raise awareness around mental health in the agricultural industry and workforce and to continue to reduce stigma associated with mental illness.

Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consider

HR 2124

LAND Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.

S 903

PASS Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.