[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 12, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H2649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             END HUNGER NOW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, in September 2017, Puerto Rico was hit by 
two major hurricanes, Irma and Maria, both of which caused catastrophic 
damage, displaced thousands of families, and killed almost 3,000 
American citizens. Adding insult to injury, the Trump administration 
organized an embarrassingly slow and ineffective response during Puerto 
Rico's time of need.
  Last July, FEMA released a report acknowledging many of their 
shortcomings in responding to Hurricane Maria. And I am sure we all 
remember images of the President tastelessly throwing paper towels at 
families during his relief visit, as if he were shooting free throws at 
a basketball game.
  It has been a year and a half since Hurricane Maria, and Puerto Rico 
has made incredible strides to rebuild, but many, many families are 
still struggling. These are American citizens who pay taxes and who 
work hard, just like mainland Americans, but for some reason, the Trump 
administration is having a hard time empathizing.
  When I think of all the ways the Trump administration has attacked 
low-income and working families, I can't say I am surprised.
  Last week, The Washington Post reported that Puerto Rico was forced 
to start cutting its Nutrition Assistance Program, NAP, benefits. 
Puerto Rico's food assistance program is funded by a capped block grant 
separate from SNAP. While other Federal nutrition programs like WIC and 
school meals operate in Puerto Rico the same as in other States and 
territories, Puerto Rico remains disadvantaged because their Nutrition 
Assistance Program funds are static.
  In order to receive nutrition assistance in Puerto Rico, you have to 
have a lower income--to receive less assistance--than someone who lives 
on the mainland. It also limits the program's flexibility to respond to 
changes in demand. When the hurricane struck, additional funds had to 
be given to NAP to accommodate more participants.
  These forced cuts will reduce Puerto Rico's food assistance benefits 
by 25 percent for 1.3 million people. That is 43 percent of Puerto 
Rico's population. While it is true that this cut will restore the 
overall benefit amount to where it was before the hurricane, we must 
remember that these participants often need more assistance, given the 
circumstances. It is not easy to rebuild your entire life on an empty 
stomach.
  Mr. Speaker, on more than one occasion, House Democrats have asked 
for an additional $600 million to help Puerto Rico through this rough 
patch, only to be shut down by the President and his misplaced, ill-
informed prejudices toward Puerto Rico. Even Leader McConnell seems to 
be helping the President do his dirty work by refusing to take up the 
supplemental appropriations bill that we sent to the Senate during the 
shutdown in January, probably because it would force them to address 
relief funds for Puerto Rico.
  Pulling out the rug from beneath Puerto Rico does not solve the 
problem; it creates a bigger one. This won't disappear. That is why I 
urge my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to appropriate an additional $600 
million for Puerto Rico's Nutrition Assistance Program.
  I also urge my colleagues in the House to support these funds and 
speak out on this issue. The least we can do is empathize with our 
fellow Americans who are recovering from a natural disaster.
  It doesn't happen overnight. It doesn't take months. It takes years 
to recover from the devastation that Hurricane Maria caused, and Puerto 
Rico has continued to fight and advocate for disaster funds, unlike 
States on the mainland.
  Time is running out, and we can't allow these cuts to continue. This 
is a moral question for all of us here in this Chamber. This is about 
how are we going to treat our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico.
  It is all on us to act. It is all on us to end hunger now.

                          ____________________