By El Nuevo Día - Washington D.C. - Nearly 90 businesses and civic groups have called on the U.S. Congress to Congress Congress to move forward with Democratic legislation that would allow Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands to be included in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
"It is time to end discrimination against those who live and work in U.S. territories...We must end discrimination based on residency and put the interests of children and families first," said Frankie Miranda, president and CEO of the Hispanic Federation.
The organizations sent letters Thursday to the leaders of the Congressional Agriculture Committees in support of measures introduced by Congresswoman Alma Adams (North Carolina) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (New York).
Adams' bill - vice chairwoman of the Agriculture Committee - has the support of 91 House Democrats, including Puerto Rican Nydia Velázquez. Gillibrand's measure is supported by four other Senate Democrats.
"It is time for Congress to act on the promise of parity for Puerto Rico in federal benefits," said Lillian Rodríguez López, director of the Puerto Rico Food Security Coalition.
In his 2022 budget proposal, President Joe Biden proposed to allocate $2.07 billion to Puerto Rico through the Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN), which organizations warn represents 25% less than what the island would receive through SNAP.
These funds will be supplemented by approximately $1 billion in temporary special allocations.
Groups supporting the legislation include the Puerto Rico Community Leaders Alliance, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Latino Justice, the Power4PuertoRico coalition, the Sor Isolina Ferré Centers and the Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.