IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION supporting the inclusion of the Puerto Rico Food Sovereignty Program in the Congressional farm bill.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 21628, May 20, 2024
INTRODUCED BY Manuel Abarca IV, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, the United States of America, as a nation, should be committed to the welfare, prosperity, and resilience of all its territories, including Puerto Rico; and,
WHEREAS, Puerto Rico currently imports approximately 85% of its food, leaving it vulnerable to global market fluctuations and potential supply chain disruptions; and,
WHEREAS, strengthening Puerto Rico's local agricultural sector by reprogramming United States Department of Agriculture funds toward purchasing locally grown items will significantly enhance food sovereignty and resilience on the island; and,
WHEREAS, supporting local agriculture in Puerto Rico has the potential to stimulate economic growth, creating jobs and encouraging entrepreneurship within the agricultural sector; and,
WHEREAS, the initiative will promote sustainable agricultural practices and reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance food transportation, thereby contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts; and,
WHEREAS, food sovereignty can bolster Puerto Rico's ability to recover from natural disasters, reducing the reliance on federal aid and demonstrating a model for resilience that could be replicated across the country; and,
WHEREAS, encouraging the production and consumption of locally grown produce can foster the preservation of Puerto Rico's rich culinary traditions, promote healthier eating habits, and enrich our national cultural heritage; and,
WHEREAS, Puerto Rico does not participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and is provided a limited block grant called Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP, or PAN in Spanish); now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri that the Legislature hereby expresses its strong support for the initiative to reprogram non-food stamp USDA funds allocated to Puerto Rico toward purchasing locally grown items in Puerto Rico and do so in a language and culturally competent fashion; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Legislature that it urges the United States Congress to include the Puerto Rico Food Sovereignty Program in its 5-year farm bill, as well as the transition of the island from NAP to SNAP; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature hereby urges Congress to endorse and implement this initiative in recognition of its potential to foster economic growth, promote sustainability, enhance resilience, and enrich cultural heritage; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the United States Congress, the President of the United States, and the Governor of Puerto Rico.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________
County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution No. 21628 of May 20, 2024, was duly passed on June 10, 2024 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas ______6_________ Nays _____0_________
Abstaining ____2_____ Absent ____1________
________________________ ____________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature