[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5220 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5220
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 10, 2021
Miss Gonzalez-Colon (for herself, Mr. McGovern, Mrs. Hayes, and Mr.
Soto) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance
Fairness Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT.
Section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Advisory Board on Transition of the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.--
``(1) Establishment of advisory board.--Not later than 60
days after the effective date of this section, the Secretary
shall establish an advisory board to formulate a recommended
State plan that includes a plan to transition the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico from receipt of block grant payments under
subsection (a)(2) to participate as a State in the supplemental
nutrition assistance program.
``(2) Membership of advisory board.--The advisory board
shall be composed of not more than 15 members of whom--
``(A) not fewer than 6 members shall be appointed
from among employees of the Food and Nutrition Service
at the Department of Agriculture; and
``(B) not fewer than 6 members shall be appointed
from the Puerto Rico Department of the Family,
including the Administrator of the Administration for
the Socioeconomic Development of the Family.
``(3) Technical assistance.--The advisory board shall
advise the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and provide technical
assistance related to the formulation of a recommended State
plan described in paragraph (4) that includes a plan for
transition to the supplemental nutrition assistance program by
the Commonwealth, including the following:
``(A) The State options under such program that are
most suitable for the Commonwealth to elect to best
respond to the nutrition need present in the
Commonwealth.
``(B) Policy changes the Commonwealth will be
required to make to implement such program.
``(C) Changes in current eligibility requirements
(including income limits) in effect under the other
provisions of this section that would be required under
such program.
``(D) Technical requirements and expenses required
to implement such program.
``(E) Administrative costs related to program
operations.
``(4) State plan.--The advisory board shall prepare and
submit to the Governor of Puerto Rico, not later than 1 year
after the effective date of this subsection, a recommended
State plan that includes a plan to transition the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico from receipt of block grant payments under
subsection (a)(2) to participation as a State in the
supplemental nutrition assistance program. The advisory board
shall notify the Secretary of this action.
``(5) Submission of the state plan by the commonwealth of
puerto rico.--The Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
may submit the recommended State plan described under paragraph
(3) of this Act to the Secretary within 60 days of its
completion as a request to participate in the supplemental
nutrition program.
``(6) Determination by secretary.--The Secretary may
approve the recommended State plan described under paragraph
(3) and submitted by the Governor of Puerto Rico under
paragraph (5) of this Act, if such plan satisfies the
requirements for a supplemental nutrition assistance State
plan, according to section 11(e). If the Secretary does not
approve such plan, the Secretary shall provide a statement that
specifies each of such requirements that is not satisfied by
the plan.
``(7) Comment period.--The Secretary shall provide a 30-day
comment period to receive comments from the public on the
recommended State plan.
``(8) Submission of state plan to the congress.--If the
Secretary approves the plan submitted by the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico under paragraph (6), and after the conclusion of
the comment period described in paragraph (7), then the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a certification that Puerto
Rico qualifies to participate in the supplemental nutrition
assistance program as if Puerto Rico were a State under section
3.
``(9) Termination of the advisory board.--The advisory
board shall terminate not later than 2 years after Puerto Rico
is treated as if it were a State as defined in section 3.''.
SEC. 3. PARTICIPATION OF PUERTO RICO IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--Following certification of Puerto Rico as
qualified to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance
program by the Secretary, section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012) is amended--
(1) in subsection (r) by inserting the ``Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico,'' after ``Guam,''; and
(2) in subsection (u)(3) by inserting the ``Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico,'' after ``Guam,''.
(b) Eligible Households.--Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b) in the first sentence, by inserting
``the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,'' after ``Guam,'';
(2) in subsection (c)(1) by striking ``and Guam'' and
inserting ``Guam, and Puerto Rico,'' and
(3) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A) by inserting ``Puerto
Rico,'' after ``Hawaii,'' each place it appears; and
(B) in paragraph (6)(B) by inserting ``Puerto
Rico,'' after ``Guam,''.
(c) Consolidated Block Grant for Puerto Rico.--Upon approval of
Puerto Rico operating the supplemental nutrition assistance program,
the Secretary may have 5 years to continue the latest approved plan
submitted under the consolidated block grant in accordance with Section
19 (3)(b)(1)(A) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2028(3)(b)(1)(A)).
(d) Report.--The Secretary shall submit an annual report to the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of representatives and the
Committee on Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry on
the operation of the plan described in subsection (c), including their
justification and impact on beneficiaries in Puerto Rico, until the 5
years expire.
(e) Amendments to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.--Following
certification under section 19(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2028(a)) will be amended to no longer include Puerto Rico as
a Government entity, as defined in subsection (a).
<all>