Center on Budget & Policy Priorities - Some 1.35 million low-income residents of Puerto Rico — more than a third of its population — reportedly have had, or will have, their food assistance benefits cut dramatically this month because its disaster food aid has run out and the President and Congress haven’t granted the governor’s request for $600 million more in funding. The House passed an aid package that includes the funds. A proposal introduced in the Senate also extends disaster food assistance for Puerto Rico, but the Senate must act quickly to ensure those still suffering in the aftermath of Hurricanes María and Irma can meet their basic food needs.
The disaster food aid was intended to be temporary, but local conditions warrant an extension. The governor argues that Puerto Rico needs the additional aid due to its ongoing struggle to recover from Hurricanes Irma and María, as well as larger structural problems with NAP’s financing that make it a significantly smaller and underpowered program than SNAP.
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