(Tuesday, July 18, 2023 - Washington, D. C) – The Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA), Luis D. Dávila, announced today along with the Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of the Family, Ciení Rodríguez, the Administrator of the Administration for Socioeconomic Development of the Family (ADSEF), Alberto Fradera, and staff of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will join efforts to continue advocating for Puerto Rico's transition from the Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in light of the reauthorization of the 2023 Farm Bill.
Puerto Rico's transition from NAP to SNAP is a priority for Governor Pierluisi's Administration and his public policy agenda in our Nation’s Capital. With this in mind, as part of a multisectoral effort, the agencies will hold meetings in Congress throughout this week with both House and Senate offices to report on the many advances that have been made to reduce the number of years it will take to transition the Island from NAP to SNAP.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) conducted a study estimating that Puerto Rico's transition from NAP to SNAP would take approximately ten years. However, studies conducted by state agencies estimate that, using technologies that are currently implemented, the transition would take about five years.
"With the reauthorization of the Farm Bill just around the corner, it’s imperative to reiterate the progress that the Government of Puerto Rico has made to reduce the number of years it will take to transition from NAP to SNAP on the Island," said PRFAA Executive Director Luis Dávila Pernas. "At this time, there are several bills running in the House and Senate that would allow Puerto Rico to be included in SNAP, which is why the meetings we will be holding this week are of the utmost importance. SNAP would bring with it, not only an increase in funding, but the opportunity to transform Puerto Rico through reforms that would allow greater flexibility in emergency situations and the opportunity for recipients to work without the risk of losing benefits, as it happens today.”
"If we take into account the socio demographics of NAP recipients in Puerto Rico, our Island's transition to the SNAP program is literally an act of social justice," said the Secretary of Department of the Family, Ciení Rodríguez. "Forty percent of the recipients are adults over 60 years of age, 22% are minors and 6% are people with functional diversity. This is why the public policy established by Governor Pierluisi is aimed at achieving this transition in the shortest time possible. At the Department of the Family, we are doing everything in our power to accomplish the transition in record time, but we need Congress to approve the Farm Bill with Puerto Rico as a SNAP recipient. For that reason, we are working at all levels, carrying the message, and we will not rest until we achieve it."
For his part, ADSEF Administrator Alberto Fradera said, "We have a plan that identifies all the aspects that need to be addressed in the transition to SNAP. We are training and have the technical support of the Food and Nutrition Service team of the federal Department of Agriculture. We are aligning every aspect required to have an orderly transition for the benefit of families in Puerto Rico. These meetings are necessary to continue providing updated information and clarify any doubts that congressmen may have."
"The unwavering commitment of this Administration to serve its people has fostered a culture of efficiency and tenacious defense of our Puerto Rico. That is why the Office of Management and Budget has established as one of its priorities to work together with ADSEF to achieve the Island's transition from NAP to SNAP, so that more Puerto Ricans receive greater nutritional assistance benefits as soon as possible," said OMB Director Juan Carlos Blanco. "As a result, we have designed with ADSEF a SNAP implementation period that cuts SNAP's estimated timeframe in half while reducing its costs as well."
Approximately 1.5 million Puerto Ricans receive nutritional assistance from NAP, benefiting a total of more than 877,000 families. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Puerto Rico currently receives approximately $2.8 billion under NAP. With SNAP, Puerto Rico would receive approximately $4.5 billion annually.
