Menendez, Booker and Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Provide Nutrition Assistance to Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) joined Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in introducing the Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2019 to restore Puerto Rico’s, the Northern Mariana Islands’ and American Samoa’s access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Nydia Velasquez (D-N.Y.).

In the early 1980’s, Puerto Rico was removed from SNAP and given a block grant to administer nutrition assistance. The block grant, which is administered locally and better known as the Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP), has meant less funding and fewer benefits for Puerto Ricans – 85 percent of whom are food insecure. People who receive assistance through NAP receive fewer benefits than SNAP beneficiaries. For example, on average a family of four living in Puerto Rico receives a maximum benefit of $410 per month while a family of four living in the Continental U.S. receives a maximum benefit of $649 per month.

The Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa also receive block grants instead of SNAP, putting pressure on their funding for nutrition assistance.

“It’s time we start treating American citizens as American citizens – regardless if they live on the mainland or on the territories,” said Sen. Menendez. “The people of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa deserve the resources needed in order to feed their families. No American family deserves to wonder if they’ll be able to put food on their table – and that includes families on our islands.”

“Without Congressional action, more than a million people in Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa will see their nutrition assistance significantly reduced or completely eliminated,” said Sen. Booker. “Now more than ever, we must ensure that our fellow Americans who live in the territories are treated fairly. That includes fair funding for basic necessities, like food.”

Puerto Rico is especially in dire need of increased food assistance funding as a result of the 2017 hurricanes, which devastated the island. Without new appropriations, Puerto Rico will run out of funding for the Nutrition Assistance Program that was approved in response to the hurricanes. An estimated 1.4 million U.S. citizens, including 300,000 children will face a large cut to their food assistance benefits, and up to 100,000 people will lose their benefits entirely. The bill would also allow Puerto Rico to continue to provide a percentage of its benefits in the form of cash assistance and also continues its Family Market Program. The bill would allow Puerto Rico to continue to provide a percentage of its benefits in the form of cash assistance and also continues its Family Market Program.

Joining Senators Menendez, Booker and Sanders are Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Last week, Sens. Menendez sent a letter calling on Congressional leadership to ensure that the final supplemental disaster package address the imminent expiration of nutritional and other benefits for thousands of eligible Puerto Ricans.

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