Jenniffer González advances inclusion of the $600 million for NAP in the Senate disaster bill

February 26,2019- Washington, D. C.- Congresswoman Jenniffer González Colón, announced the most recent efforts to advocate for the 125,000 families in Puerto Rico to continue to receive benefits under the Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as NAP.

González Colón counted with the support and leadership of the majority in the Senate by having the Republican Senator from Georgia, David Perdue, include the allocation of $ 600 million in additional emergency funds for the Nutritional Assistance Program in Puerto Rico.

"I have to recognize and thank the great leadership of Senator Perdue as well as the unwavering commitment of Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott to the most vulnerable families in Puerto Rico. Thanks to their action, they are helping me boost the allocation of an additional $ 600 million to NAP so that my people on the island are able to maintain this much-needed aid, "said González Colón.

The congresswoman stressed that extending this program has been one of her main priorities during the two Congresses.

At the end of 2017, after Hurricane Maria, Congress approved and President Trump signed Law 115-72, which authorized the disbursement of $1.27 billion to be used for NAP. The Congresswoman explained that "this allocation allowed two things: that more people in need of nutritional help after the hurricane could benefit from the program and that both new and previous participants could notice an increase in benefits. For that original assignment the help of Senator Marco Rubio was transcendental. Today, the extension of an additional $600 million represent continuing to help the beneficiaries who may remain in the program, as well as the amount of benefits resulting from the intervention of these Senators.

The allocation of an additional $1.27 billion allowed approximately 279,000 new people to join the program, whose number equates to about 125,000 families.

González Colón noted that "these figures make it clear that the need for emergency food benefits, such as those offered by additional funds for the NAP program, are necessary."

For this reason in the past Congress, the congresswoman included an amendment to the project H.R. 2, known as the "Farm Bill", requesting additional funds for NAP.

González Colón maintained personal and written communication with the chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations committees, as well as the House Rules Committee and members of the House and Senate leadership, requesting $600 million for NAP.

The efforts from the Congresswoman to advocate for these funds include calls and meetings with White House staff, such as the White House Chief of Staff and Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Mick Mulvaney.