This was announced by Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González.
By Metro Puerto Rico Wednesday, September 30, 2020, at 20:17 https://www.metro.pr/pr/noticias/2020/09/30/incluyen-puerto-rico-pandemic-ebt-da-mas-acceso-asistencia-nutricional-estudiantes.html
The U.S. Senate today approved the Continuing Budget Resolution, which includes Puerto Rico under the Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) nutrition assistance program, operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service, according to Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón. The resolution now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature.
P-EBT is available as one of the alternatives to provide nutritional benefits to students located in jurisdictions that operate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and have been affected by COVID-19 school closures during the semester. By not participating in SNAP, Puerto Rico was originally left out of this initiative, along with the territories of American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. By achieving equal treatment, Puerto Rico will be better positioned to provide nutritional assistance to over 280,000 students.
The program allows households with students affected by school closures, and who are therefore not receiving meals during regular school hours, to receive an economic benefit through the EBT system. This is the same card system used by the Department of the Family to administer the monthly benefits of the Nutritional Assistance Program (PAN).
"Including Puerto Rico under the P-EBT program has been one of my priorities during the pandemic relief package negotiations. Today I am pleased to announce that the federal Senate has just passed the Continuing Budget Resolution that includes our request for Puerto Rico students to receive a nutritional benefit through this program. The resolution is on its way to receive President Trump's signature," informed the resident commissioner.
Puerto Rico could continue to offer school cafeteria food, despite school closures, through alternative methods and in turn offer financial assistance to families with affected children.
"P-EBT was created to address the nutritional needs of students affected by COVID-19. In our case, many students rely on their schools for the majority of their daily meals. This initiative would add to the alternatives available to ensure that our children can be adequately nourished during the pandemic," the Commissioner said.
The Continuing Resolution also expands the P-EBT term through 2021.