“The appropriation, H.R. 2112, makes mandatory what had been a discretionary addition of $1 million by…Vilsack to NMI food stamp funding,” Sablan said.
Food stamp funding has increased by $3 million since Sablan started work in Congress — first by getting the Recovery Act increase to the food stamp program extended by Vilsack to the CNMI in 2009; having $12.148 million set by appropriation in FY ‘10 and FY ’11; and then successfully lobbying for the additional $1 million this year.
In an email yesterday, Press Secretary Angel A. Demapan said “during these fiscally challenging times, funding opportunities such as this is a most welcome development,” referring to the $13.138 million in CNMI food stamp funds.
“The administration is certainly grateful that U.S. Congress has agreed to provide for additional funding,” he added.
In his letter to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Sablan said $13.148 million “remains less than half of what we would receive under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.”
Sablan wants the CNMI included in SNAP so the commonwealth people will a get the same level of benefits other Americans receive.
Fitial, however, said joining the program involves administrative costs the CNMI government cannot afford.
Last month, Sablan updated the governor about findings that SNAP would increase from $2.148 million to $5.05 million the tax revenues to the commonwealth which could pay the 50 percent of the administrative cost “and leaving additional revenues available for the Legislature to appropriate.”
He said the administration has earlier made known its concern on certain provisions of SNAP, “but moving forward, a thorough dialogue between local and federal counterparts would be the best avenue to address the commonwealth’s concerns further in an effort to reach an agreement that will be mutually favorable.”
