Sponsors (55)
The bill extends and modernizes nutrition assistance for territories—potentially improving food support and implementation capacity in Puerto Rico and American Samoa—while increasing federal spending and introducing funding allocation and administrative uncertainties that could delay or redistribute benefits.
Low-income residents of Puerto Rico would become explicitly eligible for SNAP benefits, making them able to receive federal food assistance if the territory's plan is approved.
Residents of Puerto Rico would keep existing nutrition assistance during the planning/transition period because block-grant funding continues, avoiding an immediate loss of benefits while SNAP is implemented.
Puerto Rico will receive federal training, technical assistance, and faster review timelines during the planning period, helping territorial and local agencies build capacity and plan implementation more predictably.
Taxpayers would likely face higher and potentially uncertain federal spending because expanding SNAP eligibility, fully funding American Samoa, and leaving funding open-ended increase federal outlays and deficit risk.
Directing 100% of pooled funds to American Samoa after the period could reduce funding available to Puerto Rico and other recipients, meaning some territories may get less assistance.
Continuing the existing block grant during transition could delay Puerto Ricans' access to potentially higher SNAP benefits and federal eligibility rules, prolonging unequal benefit levels.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Permits Puerto Rico to transition from a nutrition block grant to full SNAP participation, sets plan and certification timelines, and revises American Samoa funding rules; funds are authorized as needed.
Introduced September 8, 2025 by Pablo José Hernández · Last progress September 8, 2025
Adds Puerto Rico to the list of jurisdictions eligible to participate in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), sets a process and deadlines for Puerto Rico to submit a SNAP State plan and for USDA to review and certify that Puerto Rico qualifies as a State for SNAP, and permits Puerto Rico’s existing nutrition block grant to continue for a limited transition period. The bill also restructures how funds for American Samoa are allocated—moving from a fixed 0.4% share toward a formula that fully covers that territory’s program expenditures after a statutory period—and authorizes unspecified appropriations to carry out the transition. Most statutory amendments become effective 10 years after enactment, while other authorities and transition timelines are set in the bill.