Sponsors (90)
Official title: To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to transition the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.
The bill expands and secures nutrition assistance for U.S. territories—potentially improving benefits for Puerto Rico and fully funding American Samoa—while increasing federal spending, creating transition costs and timing/oversight risks that could delay or complicate implementation.
Low-income residents of Puerto Rico would become eligible for SNAP (subject to plan approval), potentially expanding federal food assistance and access to higher SNAP benefits.
Residents of American Samoa would have their nutrition assistance program fully funded (100% of pooled funds directed to American Samoa after the statutory period), securing benefits for low-income people there.
Puerto Rico would retain its existing block-grant nutrition assistance during the planning/transition period, preventing abrupt loss of benefits while preparing for potential SNAP participation.
Taxpayers would likely face higher federal costs because the bill expands eligibility (Puerto Rico), directs full funding to American Samoa, and leaves some funding open-ended, increasing program outlays and fiscal uncertainty.
Directing 100% of pooled funds to American Samoa after the statutory period could reduce funding available to Puerto Rico and other recipients, leaving some territories with smaller shares of pooled resources.
Extending the current block grant during transition may delay Puerto Ricans from receiving SNAP's typically higher benefits and federal eligibility rules.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Adds Puerto Rico to SNAP eligibility, creates a transition process and temporary block-grant continuation, and revises American Samoa funding to cover full program costs.
Introduced September 8, 2025 by Pablo José Hernández · Last progress September 8, 2025
Adds Puerto Rico to the geographic eligibility of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and creates a statutory process for Puerto Rico to submit and transition to a SNAP State plan, with USDA review and technical assistance. Allows USDA to continue Puerto Rico's existing consolidated nutrition block grant for up to five years during transition, revises American Samoa funding rules to cover full program expenditures after a statutory period, authorizes unspecified appropriations, and sets a delayed effective date for the substantive amendments.