Pablo José Hernández, Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, has led a bipartisan initiative urging the leadership of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to include H.R. 5168, known as the Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act, in the upcoming Farm Bill.
This recent effort brought together 20 members of Congress from both parties, which is a notable increase compared to previous attempts. The move highlights a growing consensus in Washington on the need to update Puerto Rico’s nutrition assistance program and align it more closely with SNAP benefits available in U.S. states.
“Puerto Rico has operated for decades under a fixed allocation of funds for food assistance that does not adjust automatically when an economic recession, natural disaster or increased need occurs—situations that the SNAP program does address in the states,” wrote Hernández and other lawmakers. “Including this measure in the Farm Bill would bring long-awaited equity to more than 1.3 million low-income people on the Island who depend on this aid, while establishing an orderly and responsible transition.”
H.R. 5168 aims to address longstanding disparities by creating a gradual transition from Puerto Rico’s current Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) to SNAP over at least ten years. This approach is intended to provide stability for beneficiaries and ensure an organized implementation process. The bill also requires Puerto Rico’s government to submit a transition plan to the Department of Agriculture and receive federal technical support. Supporters argue that these changes would place Puerto Rico on equal footing with states and improve its ability to respond effectively during future economic downturns or natural disasters.
Hernández emphasized his commitment to continue working throughout Farm Bill negotiations so that Puerto Rican families have fair and reliable access to federal nutrition programs.
