Galvin Deleon Guerrero
GALVIN Sablan Deleon Guerrero, independent candidate for U.S. delegate to Congress, expressed dismay over the recent announcement that over 5,000 CNMI households that depend on the CNMI Nutrition Assistance Program would get their food assistance cut by 35% in the coming year.
“These federal cuts will jeopardize a literal lifeline for thousands of families in our islands,” said Deleon Guerrero. “To hurt our people when they are already hurting so much is nothing short of shameful.”
According to the announcement, the cuts stem from a reduction in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, decreasing the CNMI’s share from $56 million to $34 million, which will affect more than 13,000 recipients on Saipan, Rota, Tinian, and the Northern Islands. To absorb the federal funding cut, the CNMI NAP office announced that it will need to reduce benefits to these participants by 35%. The cuts come at a time when a downward economy, lingering inflation, and costly shipping have already made food in the islands, most of which is imported, more expensive than the rest of the nation.
“As our economy struggles to recover, many of our people are struggling to put food on the table. These cuts will only make their struggle worse. It is important to note that programs like food stamps and social assistance are not acts of charity — they are investments in our people. They help families weather tough times, get back on their feet, and contribute to our community. They give people in need a hand up, not a hand out. We should treat them as such,” Deleon Guerrero said.
In response, he pledged to focus on three initiatives to address if the issue if elected to Congress:
Engage with the USDA
“I will push to serve on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee so that I can work to ensure that the USDA restores and increases NAP funding for a highly underserved US territory. As proud members of the American political family, we must do more to ensure that people do not go hungry in the richest, most powerful nation on Earth.”
Increase food security in the CNMI
“On the Agriculture Committee, I will also introduce amendments to the Farm Bill that will provide more support for our local farmers so that we can improve food security in our islands. Our islands, which currently import more than 90% of our food, were once regionally competitive in agribusiness; we need to restore that competitive edge as part of ongoing efforts in diversifying our economy.”
Push for food cost adjustments
“I will also work to ensure that federal budget bills allow for special food cost adjustments for our islands that reflect the higher cost of food due to our remote location. If similar adjustments were secured for Guam and the U. S. Virgin Islands, then we must do the same for the Northern Marianas.”
Deleon Guerrero added, “As an educator, one of the first concepts I learned is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which states that students cannot learn unless their basic needs, like food and shelter, are met. Likewise, our people cannot survive or thrive on empty stomachs.”
“What also concerns me is that something as critical as a cut to food assistance is an issue that should have been caught. Unfortunately, someone clearly dropped the ball on that,” he said.
“I, for one, will keep my eye on the ball and never lose sight of what matters most — fighting for our people, fighting for our islands, fighting for us.”
