Puerto Rico residents cannot receive benefits under the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as residents of the states, United States Virgin Islands and Guam do. Instead, Puerto Rico is provided a capped amount of funding, referred to as the Nutrition Assistance Program or NAP, which provides much less support than SNAP.
For years, some members of Congress have advocated for a transition from NAP to SNAP for the Island. The Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act of 2023, which is pending in both the House (H.R. 253) and the Senate (S. 949), calls for this change. As momentum begins to build for congressional passage of a the Farm Bill, a comprehensive, multiyear proposal that governs an array of agricultural and food programs, all eyes have been on the House and Senate to see whether their proposals will include a reform of the Puerto Rico program.
According to news released on May 1, the Senate bill will include a NAP to SNAP transition for Puerto Rico while the House plans increase funding for Puerto Rico without altering the current structure. Ultimately, a compromise will have to be struck, and proponents of a NAP to SNAP transition are speaking up to urge reform.
Support for the NAP to SNAP transition
The Center for a New Economy is one of the organizations supporting the change. “Puerto Rico definitely needs additional nutrition funds but consideration of just another increase in NAP funding, without providing for a systematic transition to the SNAP, would be insufficient and continue to subject island residents to funding gaps, food insecurity, and second-class citizenship status,” wrote Policy Director Sergio M. Marxuach. “It is not the long-term solution to which Puerto Ricans, as U.S. citizens, have a right through this Farm Bill.”
While the historical record shows that Puerto Rico was originally included in the food stamp program and was shifted to NAP as a cost-saving measure, Marxuach is unsatisfied with that decision. “There is no rational relationship between the general desire or necessity to cut the costs of any given federal program and the decision to cut only those benefits accruing to a particular group of persons,” he insists. “[T]he decision to implement the NAP in Puerto Rico as a capped block grant is yet another example in a long history of Congressional discrimination against territories based on [racism].”
Among the legislators supporting the transition are not only the 27 members of Congress cosponsoring HR 253 and the 18 cosponsoring S 949, but also elected officials in Puerto Rico. One example is Julian Soto, a City Council member for San Juan. In a letter to the U.S. Congress, Soto wrote, “I am proud to express my backing and align myself with the bipartisan support from both chambers of the Puerto Rico State Legislature, the Government of Puerto Rico, the Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón, and most importantly the diverse coalition of hundreds of private sector organizations and non-governmental entities. It is important to also recognize the unwavering support of many members of Congress in both, the House and Senate. This unified front, spanning across political affiliations and sectors, underscores the widespread consensus and urgent imperative to transition Puerto Rico from the NAP to the SNAP. It is with firm conviction and dedication to the well-being of our community that I join these voices in advocating for this transition, recognizing its potential to alleviate food insecurity, promote economic resilience, and foster a brighter future for the residents of San Juan.”
Roberto LeFranc Fortuno, an elected delegate of the Puerto Rico Congressional Delegation, also wrote to Congress. “The existing structure of Puerto Rico’s NAP presents significant obstacles to ensuring adequate nutrition for our fellow American citizens and a positive impact into a possible workforce growth… This disparity not only undermines the health and well-being of Puerto Rican families but also impedes our island’s economic growth and resilience, especially in the aftermath of disasters and emergencies.”
“Moreover,” he continued, “it’s essential to emphasize the integral role of employment and economic growth in conjunction with nutritional assistance programs. Access to SNAP not only ensures food security but also promotes workforce participation and economic prosperity. By empowering individuals with the resources they need to meet their basic needs, we can bolster efforts to integrate beneficiaries into the workforce, driving positive economic growth and fostering greater self-sufficiency among Puerto Rican residents.”
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Proponents of the transition also tend to focus on the issue of fairness and the need for nutrition assistance in Puerto Rico, where an estimated 40% of the population faces food insecurity.
These claims explain why there is support for the transition on both sides of the aisle.
