Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-677
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2019-03-06
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: American Samoa

Caribbean area

Food assistance and relief

Northern Mariana Islands

Puerto Rico
Latest action: action_date: 2019-03-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-03-06
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2019 </b></p> <p>This bill allows Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) after submitting a plan of operation that is approved by the Department of Agriculture. (Under current law, the three territories receive block grants instead of participating in SNAP.)</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 677 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 6, 2019 Mr. Sanders (for himself, Mr. Merkley , Mr. Blumenthal , Mrs. Gillibrand , Ms. Warren , Ms. Harris , Mr. Markey , Mr. Booker , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Menendez , and Mr. Durbin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide for the participation of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2019 . 2. Participation of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands in supplemental nutrition assistance program (a) In general (1) Definitions Section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2012 ) is amended— (A) in subsection (r), by inserting the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, after Guam, ; and (B) in subsection (u)(3), by inserting the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, after Guam, . (2) Eligible households Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2014 ) is amended— (A) in subsection (b), in the first sentence, by inserting the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, after Guam, ; (B) in subsection (c)(1), by striking and Guam, and inserting Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, ; and (C) in subsection (e)— (i) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, after Hawaii, each place it appears; and (ii) in paragraph (6)(B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, after Guam, . (3) Effective date (A) In general The amendments made by this subsection shall be effective with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as applicable, on the date described in subparagraph (B) if the Secretary of Agriculture submits to Congress a certification under subsection (f)(3) of section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2028 ) (as added by subsection (b)). (B) Date described The date referred to in subparagraph (A) is, with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the date established by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, respectively, in the applicable plan of operation submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture under subsection (f)(1)(A) of section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2028 ) (as added by subsection (b)). (b) Transition of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to supplemental nutrition assistance program 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) Transition of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to supplemental nutrition assistance program (1) Submission of plan by Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands (A) Submission and review of plan of operation If a State agency is designated by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (referred to in this subsection as a governmental entity ) and submits to the Secretary a request to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program and a plan of operation under section 11 (including a date on which the governmental entity will begin to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program), the Secretary shall determine whether that governmental entity and State agency satisfy the requirements that would apply under this Act for approval of that plan if the governmental entity were one of the several States. (B) Determination by Secretary (i) Approval The Secretary shall approve a plan of operation under subparagraph (A) if the governmental entity and State agency satisfy the requirements described in that subparagraph. (ii) Disapproval If the Secretary does not approve a plan of operation under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide to the governmental entity a statement that describes each requirement that is not satisfied by the plan. (2) Approval of retail food stores If the Secretary approves a plan of operation under paragraph (1)(B)(i), the Secretary shall accept from retail food stores located in the applicable governmental entity applications under section 9 for approval to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. (3) Submission of certification to Congress The Secretary shall submit to Congress a certification that a governmental entity qualifies to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program as if the governmental entity were a State if the Secretary— (A) approves the plan of operation under paragraph (1)(B)(i); and (B) approves the applications under paragraph (2) of a number of retail food stores located in the governmental entity requesting to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program that would be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Act if the governmental entity were one of the several States. (4) Cash benefits provided in Puerto Rico As part of a plan of operation submitted under paragraph (1)(A), the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may submit to the Secretary a request to provide benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program in the form of cash. (5) Family Market Program in Puerto Rico As part of a plan of operation submitted under paragraph (1)(A), notwithstanding subsection (g), the Secretary shall allow the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to continue to carry out, under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, the Family Market Program established under this section. (g) Termination of effectiveness (1) In general Subsections (a) through (e) shall cease to be effective with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as applicable, on the date described in paragraph (2) if the Secretary submits to Congress a certification under subsection (f)(3). (2) Date described The date referred to in paragraph (1) is, with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the date established by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, respectively, in the applicable plan of operation submitted to the Secretary under subsection (f)(1)(A). . (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out this section and the amendments made by this section such sums as are necessary for each fiscal year, to remain available until expended.