Asistencia Alimentaria

Congress, concerned about the size and expense of Puerto Rico's Food Stamp Program, replaced it in fiscal year 1991 with an $825-million annual food stamp assistance block grant, which Puerto Rico used to start up a cash food assistance program. Because that program's criteria are more restrictive, however, about 20 percent fewer people are receiving food assistance than would have under the Food Stamp Program, and those who do receive benefits are having to do with less. No islandwide nutrition studies have been done to assess the impact of the new program or the nutritional status of Puerto Ricans. Measures to increase program assistance levels and participation in Puerto Rico would entail higher program costs, necessitating additional funding. The specific nutritional impacts of these potential program alternatives could not be reliably estimated because many variables can affect an individual's overall nutritional status.

GAO found that: (1) information on nutritional conditions and needs in Puerto Rico is limited; (2) the average diet in Puerto Rico appears sufficient to meet recommended dietary standards, but a current comprehensive survey of nutrition would cost approximately $2 million; (3) 1990 Puerto Rican NAP appropriations totaled $937 million, and 1.48 million Puerto Ricans participated in NAP; (4) restoring the Food Stamp Program, increasing benefits under NAP, and adjusting eligibility and benefit criteria are alternatives which could increase program participation and costs; (5) the estimated cost of reinstituting the Food Stamp Program would be about $1.6 billion; and (6) the estimated cost of expanding NAP to accommodate increased participation is about $1.3 billion.