By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE CNMI’s Nutrition Assistance Program currently has unspent balances from prior-year U.S. appropriations that remain legally available, according to U.S. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds, who requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture allow the Commonwealth government to use them.
In her letter on Tuesday, King-Hinds respectfully sought the assistance of USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins so the CNMI can continue distributing nutrition assistance to low-income residents during the federal government shutdown.
Following clarification from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services that no NAP benefits are to be issued in November, Gov. David M. Apatang asked the Legislature to authorize a $3.9 million emergency appropriation to ensure “that no family in the CNMI goes hungry due to circumstances beyond our control.”
King-Hinds noted that the CNMI NAP, operating since 1982 as a capped block grant program, is separate from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, the contingency funds of which are not legally available for use during the current lapse in appropriations. The CNMI NAP, she said, operates under a different statutory and funding framework.
The CNMI NAP, King-Hinds said, is not requesting the use of USDA’s contingency funds nor a transfer from other critical sources. She is asking for USDA approval to use the unspent NAP fund balances from prior-year appropriations. Allowing these funds to be used would ensure that benefits continue to reach eligible households through the electronic benefit transfer system without interruption until the funds are expended, the congresswoman said.
King-Hinds told Rollins that the suspension of the NAP program has forced the CNMI government to seek the allocation of $3.9 million of its dwindling local funds to prevent families from going without food assistance. She said this diversion of limited local financial resources effectively offsets the intended impact of federal relief and highlights the urgency of authorizing the use of existing NAP funds to maintain continuity of the program.
“The CNMI economy continues to face significant difficulties, necessitating programs such as NAP. Business closures have accelerated, unemployment remains high, and fiscal austerity has constrained essential services. These economic and fiscal conditions have placed the people of the CNMI in an incredibly fragile position, more vulnerable than any other community in the nation to the loss of critical programs such as this,” King-Hinds said.
“We deeply appreciate the partnership and responsiveness the Trump administration has shown in recent months as the Commonwealth works through its economic and financial challenges. I am hopeful that with your continued support, USDA can take necessary steps to authorize the use of these previously appropriated funds and ensure that NAP benefits continue without interruption for the 5,500 households and 14,000 individuals who rely on the program each month,” she said.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.