‘USDA still concerned about slow food stamp spending’

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Even with the recently announced increase in food stamp eligibility and benefits, the Commonwealth will still leave over $10 million unspent over the next three years, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The department provided the information yesterday to Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP).

Sablan asked for the updated spending projection, after the Commonwealth lifted eligibility standards and benefit amounts earlier this month.

In March, Sablan had called for the Commonwealth to make more families eligible and to raise their monthly benefits after it was revealed the government was sitting on $22.5 million in food stamp grant funds.

Commonwealth officials quickly announced they would make the changes. But the changes are not enough.

“According to [the CNMI’s] own fiscal projections, there will likely be a significant under-utilization of appropriated funds,” the Agriculture Department reported. “Based on projections of the CNMI,” USDA said, the surplus would be “approximately $10,135,655 over the next three years.”

And, the report added, “We did inform CNMI leadership that [the department] is still concerned.”

In response to this latest report, Sablan insisted again that the Commonwealth government needs to increase spending of food stamp money.

“Congress appropriated this money, so families in the Marianas would have more to eat,” he said. “I appreciate that the Commonwealth made a few adjustments this month. But, clearly, it is not enough. The Agriculture Department remains concerned. I remain concerned.

“How do you explain to parents that there are millions of dollars to help feed their hungry children, but the Commonwealth will not use it?”

Slow spending

Sablan previously warned that the slow spending made it difficult to get five more years of increased food stamp money for the Marianas into the new farm bill.

In the 2014 farm bill, U.S. Public Law 113-79, Sablan added $32.5 million for the Marianas. That money raised the Marianas food stamp total for the current year from $12.148 million to $20.648 million.

But, Sablan said, Republicans writing the new farm bill told him, “Your government already has $22.5 million unused, we cannot give you more money.”

True to their word, when Republicans introduced a new, five-year farm bill on April 12, there was no new money for the Marianas.

Sablan responded with a legislative proposal, H.R. 5478, to provide the new money he wanted for Marianas food stamps, but only when the Commonwealth spent down its surplus.

Sablan said he aims to add his language when the farm bill goes to the House floor for a vote or later in the Senate.

“Ten years in Congress have taught me to keep working for a solution, even if the first answer is no,” he said. (PR)