Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act

Key Points

• This bill would transition Puerto Rico from its current block grant nutrition assistance program to SNAP, the same food aid program used across the 50 states. Currently, Puerto Rico operates under a fixed-budget system that often provides less generous benefits than SNAP.
• Food benefits would be adjusted to reflect the actual cost of groceries in Puerto Rico, similar to how the government already handles higher food costs in Alaska and Hawaii. This ensures families can afford a basic healthy diet.
• The bill includes a long transition period: Puerto Rico has 180 days to submit a plan, the USDA has 180 days to review it, and the block grant can continue for up to 5 years. The major legal amendments don't take full effect until 10 years after enactment.
• Switching to SNAP would give Puerto Rico access to an entitlement program whose funding automatically rises with need, unlike the current capped block grant. This means more reliable help during economic downturns and natural disasters when more families qualify.
• After the transition, the block grant funds previously shared between Puerto Rico and American Samoa would go entirely to American Samoa, ensuring that territory's nutrition program is not disrupted.