New York – The Pierluisi Administration indicated by letter to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Tom Vilsack, that they are already working with the Food and Nutrition Service (one of its agencies) in the administrative processes to expedite a transition from PAN (Nutrition Assistance Program) to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance) in the event that the integration of Puerto Rico to the latter in the new “Farm Bill” is approved.
In a letter on February 29 signed by the secretary of the Department of Family, Ciení Rodríguez Troche, and the administrator of Socioeconomic Development of the Family (ADSEF), Alberto Fradera Vázquez, officials noted that agencies at the local level are committed to a possible transition.
The letter that was provided to El Diario de NY is an update on the efforts being carried out at the local level in the event of a transition.
“As secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Family, I assure you that we have not only been working to eliminate administrative obstacles that could hinder Puerto Rico’s transition to SNAP, but we have already begun working towards a possible transition program with the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), under its own administration,” the officials stated in the letter that includes a report of the steps taken so far.
Rodríguez Troche and Fradera Vázquez added that the government to which they belong is working on a pilot project in the municipality of Carolina that incorporates SNAP work requirements. As part of other actions taken, officials added in the report that they are developing a plan that would allow for a transition in five years. The initiatives also include the creation of an expert committee.
PR began designing policies for the SNAP program following recommendations outlined in the Knowledge Policy Research reports, the letter states. “For this purpose, biweekly meetings are held with pre-assigned topics to include the policies in the draft.” The document also mentions the input received by FNS on best implementation practices as well as visits from different SNAP offices in the states.
“Once you have read the report, I would like the opportunity to discuss with you any concerns you may still have and provide you with any additional information about Puerto Rico’s preparations for the transition to SNAP in the coming months,” Rodríguez Troche and Fradera stated. Vazquez.
Through ADSEF, the Department of Family distributes funds to PAN-eligible households.
In this way, the government responded to the statements made by Vilsack as part of a hearing in the Senate in which the viability of the integration of Puerto Rico was discussed.
In the meeting last Wednesday before the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forest Sciences, Vilsack hinted that a change of this type would take longer than expected.
“There is a lot of work to do to set up the technology and staffing for this effort. That is why we have been working very closely with the governor (Pedro Pierluisi). I traveled to Puerto Rico, spoke with him specifically about this. I think it’s unfortunately not a matter of weeks or months, but I think it will certainly be in the foreseeable future. The expectation and the objective is to really make the transition to SNAP,” said Vilsack, when asked by New York Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
A feasibility study released by USDA in 2022 suggests that it could take about 10 years and would consist of five main phases: legislative changes in Puerto Rico, development of regulations, program design, planning, and testing, training and launch.
In a previous interview with El Diario, Carlos Ortiz Medina, director of the USDA Caribbean Area Office, clarified that the implementation period could vary and that it could be carried out even in less time.
“The study makes an estimate. The reality is that Puerto Rico can make a transition as fast as they can make it…When we are talking about design, that is an estimate from the study. The reality is that once Puerto Rico receives approval from Congress to make the transition, it will take as long as they can take, and it may be less than 10 years,” she explained..
The implementation of SNAP in Puerto Rico will also require a substantial investment in human resources.
Gillibrand presented the ”Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act” (S.949) which has its sister version in the House, HR 253. These legislations establish a process for the transition from PAN to SNAP or facilitate the integration of Puerto Rico to the program federal.
At the moment, US citizens in the territory do not benefit on the same terms as residents of the states from the food assistance program; The funds in Puerto Rico are not even equal to those in the Virgin Islands.
Block allocation for Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico, a block allocation applies to the PAN, which means that the island receives fixed funding.
The above also implies less flexibility in cases of emergencies such as hurricanes or earthquakes. In instances like these, Congress must first approve any additional allocation of funds for the island.
If the change were approved by the federal Legislature, the territory would receive about $4.5 billion a year, compared to the current $2.9 billion annually.
Gillibrand along with other Democratic leaders; Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González (author of HR 253); and groups of activists from the island and the diaspora have been insisting, particularly, since last year on the need for
The change must be made through Title 4 of the Agriculture Improvement Act (Farm Bill) of 2018, legislation under which several food and nutrition assistance programs including SNAP are reauthorized.
Due to the lack of agreement between Democrats and Republicans in Congress on the content of the piece, its validity was extended until September 30 of this year. Before that date, legislators are expected to complete negotiations on the legislative package that is re-evaluated every five years.
Several Republicans have been reluctant to include Puerto Rico in the SNAP program, arguing the cost that the transition would imply.
Keep reading:
Interview: Parity in SNAP and Medicare funds, two other priorities of PRFAA director, Luis Dávila Pernas
SNAP in Puerto Rico: USDA explains what a transition to the food stamp program on the island would entail
10 key facts about the proposal in Congress to include Puerto Rico in the SNAP “food stamp” program through the “Farm Bill” (Farm Bill 2023)
Republican representative visiting Puerto Rico to evaluate possible transition from PAN to SNAP as part of “Farm Bill 2023”