# 119-hr-5168: Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act

119-hr-5168, Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large] (D-PR); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-30).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5168
- As of: 2026-10-30
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5168
- Congress: 119
- Title: Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-09-08
- Sponsor: Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large] (D-PR)
- Cosponsors: 89
- Policy area: Agriculture and Food
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-30

## Summary

**Puerto Rico's transition to SNAP** would move the island out of its current consolidated nutrition block grant and into the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under a defined planning and transition timeline. - Families in Puerto Rico would be treated as a State for SNAP purposes, making households eligible under SNAP rules instead of the existing block grant framework. - A designated Puerto Rican entity must file a transition plan within 180 days, with the Department of Agriculture providing technical assistance. Puerto Rico may continue to receive the consolidated block grant for up to five years while it completes the switch. - American Samoa gets a new post-transition funding rule that directs 0.4 percent of an aggregate amount each year to it and allocates 100 percent of those funds to cover its specified nutrition program costs. - The Agriculture Secretary must review the plan within 180 days and, if approved, certify to Congress within 90 days that Puerto Rico qualifies to participate in SNAP as a State.

## Cosponsors (89)

- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] (D-NC), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35] (D-CA), 2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] (R-NE), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27] (R-FL), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] (D-MN), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23] (R-TX), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large] (R-GU), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (D-CT), 2025-12-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2025-12-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2025-12-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2] (D-MD), 2025-12-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22] (D-NY), 2025-12-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2026-01-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8] (D-MI), 2026-01-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2026-01-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2] (D-NM), 2026-02-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2026-02-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2026-02-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] (D-PA), 2026-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2026-02-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2026-02-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (D-NC), 2026-02-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13] (D-GA), 2026-02-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] (D-OR), 2026-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2026-03-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT), 2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2026-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9] (D-NJ), 2026-04-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] (D-CT), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large] (R-MP), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-CA), 2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18] (D-TX), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27] (D-CA), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3] (D-KS), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] (D-WI), 2026-05-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4] (D-MN), 2026-05-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34] (D-CA), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (D-PA), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] (D-CA), 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA), 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO), 2026-06-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2026-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2026-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2026-06-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ), 2026-06-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2026-07-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] (D-CA), 2026-07-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2026-07-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA), 2026-08-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2026-08-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL), 2026-09-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33] (D-CA), 2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19] (D-NY), 2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17] (D-IL), 2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1] (D-MA), 2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2026-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (D-MA), 2026-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2026-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large] (R-AS), 2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] (D-FL), 2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Guaranteed nutrition funding for American Samoa: benefit, high. If enacted, for each fiscal year after Puerto Rico's transition ends, the Secretary would use 100 percent of the specified funds to pay American Samoa's full expenditures for its covered nutrition program. Subject to available appropriations, American Samoa would also receive an extra amount equal…
- Puerto Rico added to SNAP States: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would add Puerto Rico into multiple SNAP definitions so Puerto Rican households could be treated like a State for SNAP rules. This change would take effect on the date that is 10 years after enactment unless another provision says otherwise. Households in Puerto Rico would ther…
- Puerto Rico SNAP plan and transition: benefit, medium. If enacted, Puerto Rico would need to name a transitioning agency and submit a plan to join SNAP within 180 days of that designation. The Agriculture Secretary would provide technical help during those 180 days, and must approve or disapprove the plan within 180 days of receipt. If the plan is disa…
- Funding authorized for Puerto Rico transition: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would authorize such sums as may be necessary to carry out the Act until the end of Puerto Rico's transition period described in the bill. This authorization would let agencies and Congress provide money needed to implement the transition to SNAP, but it does not itself appropr…
- Major SNAP changes delayed 10 years: cost, high. If enacted, the bill would be effective on enactment, but the main amendments that change SNAP rules for Puerto Rico would not take effect until 10 years after enactment. That delay would defer the coverage and treatment changes that Puerto Rican households would otherwise get under those amendment…

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- 119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act
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- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025
- 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-5168 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5168)

## Related
- [119-hres-70: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-70)
- [119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2550)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5168 (as of 2026-10-30).