Resident Commissioner pushes SNAP transition in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández met with leaders and participants of the Nutrition Assistance Program, known as PAN in Spanish, at the Puerto Rico Food Bank in Carolina as part of his push to include the island in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The visit included a tour of the facilities and a roundtable discussion on the need for a structured transition through the bipartisan Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act, HR 5168.
“For me, these forums aren’t a symbolic act; they’re an essential tool. Listening directly to those who experience the limitations of the PAN allows us to humanize the statistics and legislate with greater precision and empathy,” Hernández said.
“No report can replace the voice of a mother telling you she can’t afford to feed her children in the last week of the month. That’s where the true urgency of this fight begins,” he said.
The resident commissioner said the proposed transition would be orderly, fiscally responsible and focused on the well-being of vulnerable communities.
“The stigma faced by many families participating in the PAN, coupled with high food costs, inflation and federal changes, exacerbates a reality: the aid simply isn’t enough to keep food in the home throughout the month,” said Puerto Rico Food Bank President Mari Jo Laborde.
Panelists also stressed the disparities between PAN and SNAP, noting that average PAN benefits are about 41% lower and eligibility rules more restrictive.
Hernández said the information gathered “gives us a complete picture. It’s not just about numbers: it’s about how those numbers affect the tables, the pockets and the dignity of thousands of families. This data strengthens our work in Congress and clearly dismantles the arguments that have hindered equity for Puerto Rico.”
His office said the initiative is part of broader efforts to secure Puerto Rico’s inclusion in SNAP in the upcoming Farm Bill.
