Bill Summary
This bill, titled the "Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2020," aims to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to include the participation of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This would allow eligible households in these territories to receive food assistance through the federal program. The bill also outlines the process for these territories to transition to the SNAP program, including the submission of a plan of operation and approval from the Secretary of Agriculture. The bill also provides funding for the implementation of necessary technology infrastructure and sets an expiration date for the amendments made in this bill.
Possible Impacts
1. Increased Access to Nutritional Assistance - The legislation would allow for the participation of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, potentially providing access to much needed food assistance for individuals and families in these territories.
2. Impact on Local Retail Stores - The legislation would also allow for retail food stores located in these territories to apply to be authorized to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, potentially increasing business for these stores and providing more options for individuals on the program.
3. Cost of Implementation - The legislation includes a provision for a one-time grant to cover the cost of implementing the necessary technology infrastructure for the program, potentially putting a strain on the budget of these territories and impacting their ability to carry out the program effectively.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3934 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3934
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide for the
participation of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in the supplemental
nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 10, 2020
Mr. Sanders (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Markey, Ms. Harris, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Warren, and Ms.
Klobuchar) 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 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in 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 ``Equitable Nutrition Assistance for
the Territories Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. PARTICIPATION AND TRANSITION OF PUERTO RICO, AMERICAN SAMOA,
AND THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS IN SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--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, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands,'' after ``Guam,''; and
(2) in subsection (u)(3), by inserting ``the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands,'' 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, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,'' after
``Guam,'';
(2) 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
(3) in subsection (e)--
(A) 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
(B) 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,''.
(c) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and
(b) shall be effective with respect to the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, as applicable, on the date described
in paragraph (2) if the Secretary of Agriculture submits to
Congress a certification under subsection (f)(2)(B) of section
19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028).
(2) Date described.--The date referred to in paragraph (1)
is, with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American
Samoa, and 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).
(d) 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--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.''; and
(2) 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) Request for participation.--A governmental entity may
submit to the Secretary a request to participate in the
supplemental nutrition assistance program, which shall include
a plan of operation described in section 11(d), which shall
include the date on which the governmental entity intends to
begin participation in the program.
``(2) Certification by secretary.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall certify a
governmental entity that submits a request under
paragraph (1) as qualified to participate in the
supplemental nutrition assistance program if the
Secretary--
``(i) approves the plan of operation
submitted with the request, in accordance with
this subsection; and
``(ii) approves the applications described
in paragraph (4) in accordance with that
paragraph.
``(B) Submission of certification to congress.--The
Secretary shall submit each certification under
subparagraph (A) to Congress.
``(3) Determination of plan of operation.--
``(A) Approval.--The Secretary shall approve a plan
of operation submitted with a request under paragraph
(1) if the plan satisfies the requirements under this
Act.
``(B) Disapproval.--If the Secretary does not
approve a plan of operation submitted with a request
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the
governmental entity a statement that describes each
requirement under this Act that is not satisfied by the
plan.
``(4) Retail food stores.--If the Secretary approves a plan
of operation under paragraph (3)(A) for a governmental entity,
the Secretary shall accept applications from retail food stores
located in that governmental entity to be authorized under
section 9 to participate in the supplemental nutrition
assistance program.
``(5) Puerto rico.--In the case of a request under
paragraph (1) by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
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 pursuant to this section.
``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are
necessary to carry out this subsection for fiscal year 2020, to
remain available until expended.
``(g) Technical Infrastructure Implementation.--
``(1) In general.--A governmental entity may request from
the Secretary a 1-time grant to pay for the cost of the
technology infrastructure necessary to implement the
supplemental nutrition assistance program, including the cost
of information technology, information technology personnel,
and training relating to program implementation.
``(2) Application.--A governmental entity making a request
under paragraph (1) for a grant shall submit to the Secretary
an application at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require, including--
``(A) a description of the costs to be paid for by
the grant; and
``(B) a plan for implementing the technology
infrastructure described in paragraph (1)--
``(i) within 1 year of receiving the grant;
and
``(ii) that is reasonably cost efficient,
as determined by the Secretary.
``(3) Determination.--
``(A) Time limit.--The Secretary shall approve or
deny an application submitted under paragraph (2) not
later than 180 days after the date on which the
application is submitted.
``(B) Denial.--If the Secretary denies an
application submitted under paragraph (2), the
governmental entity may amend the plan described in
subparagraph (B) of that paragraph, in coordination
with the Secretary, to resubmit to the Secretary for
approval.
``(4) Funding.--
``(A) In general.--There is appropriated to the
Secretary, out of funds in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, $5,000,000 to carry out this subsection,
to remain available until 3 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection.
``(B) Reversion of funds.--Any funds appropriated
to the Secretary under subparagraph (A) that remain
available by the date described in that subparagraph
shall revert to the Treasury.
``(h) 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, and 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)(2)(B) for that governmental
entity.
``(2) Date described.--The date referred to in paragraph
(1) is, with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
American Samoa, and 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).''.
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