Bill Overview
Title: Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act of 2022
Description: of 2022 This bill sets out a process to enable Puerto Rico to participate as a state in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under current law, a state receives SNAP funding based on the number of participating households in the state whereas Puerto Rico receives a block grant to fund its nutrition assistance program. The bill requires Puerto Rico to submit to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) a plan of operation to transition away from the consolidated block grant program to SNAP. USDA must provide appropriate training and technical assistance to enable Puerto Rico to formulate such plan.
Sponsors: Resident Commissioner González-Colón, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: People in Puerto Rico
Estimated Size: 3196000
- Currently, Puerto Rico funds its nutrition assistance program through a block grant, which limits flexibility in budget and resources dedicated to participants, unlike states which get funding based on participation numbers in SNAP.
- Transitioning to SNAP would potentially lead to more available resources for nutrition assistance in Puerto Rico, due to the data-driven financing model based on participant numbers.
Reasoning
- Given the scope of the policy, it is directly focused on the residents of Puerto Rico and does not impact individuals on the mainland U.S. in a practical sense, as SNAP policies for states are already in effect there.
- Prioritize simulating interviews with people in Puerto Rico, from various socio-economic backgrounds, urban and rural areas, and different family sizes, which are indicative of the population that might be impacted by this transition to SNAP.
- With a budget of $750 million in Year 1 and over $5 billion in 10 years, the policy aims to extend the coverage and potentially increase the benefits available to participants, impacting their wellbeing significantly.
- Consider the proportionate increase in resources as the policy will fund based on numbers rather than the block grant fixed allocation.
Simulated Interviews
single mother (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy can help improve support for people like me.
- Currently, the assistance is not enough, especially given my family size.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
construction worker (Ponce, Puerto Rico)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My family struggles sometimes when work is off-season.
- This policy seems promising to help us during tough times.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
retired teacher (Mayagüez, Puerto Rico)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the transition to SNAP will mean better food assistance.
- Sometimes it's hard to afford the basics after paying for medication.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
full-time student (Arecibo, Puerto Rico)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the new system will offer more flexibility in terms of benefits.
- Having additional help with food could lessen my financial stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
small business owner (Bayamón, Puerto Rico)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If more people have assistance, they'll buy more food, which could be great for my business.
- Overall, I'm optimistic about the changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
high school senior (Humacao, Puerto Rico)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the new policy won't impact me immediately, but it could help my family.
- It's reassuring to know there's a system that might be more responsive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
fisher (Fajardo, Puerto Rico)
Age: 37 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could provide a safety net during off-seasons.
- If it improves accessibility and resource allocation like promised, it would be beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
nurse (Caguas, Puerto Rico)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With less income now, better food assistance could really help us.
- I hope the transition happens smoothly and quickly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
IT professional (San Germán, Puerto Rico)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I likely won't be affected, additional resources for the community might enhance local services.
- I'm interested in seeing overall economic effects for Puerto Rico.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
nutritionist (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A SNAP system could dramatically improve community health outcomes.
- Easier access to food can alleviate specific nutritional deficiencies we encounter.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $750000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $800000000)
Year 2: $850000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $900000000)
Year 3: $400000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $450000000)
Year 5: $450000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $500000000)
Year 10: $500000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $550000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring a smooth transition from the block grant to SNAP systems to avoid disruption of benefits.
- Providing effective training and technical assistance to Puerto Rico to handle SNAP operations independently.
- Monitoring and managing the costs associated with program administration during and after transition.