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![handle is hein.gao/gaobaaxeu0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
DCCUHINT HASUME
05895 - (B1226180]
Pr ulems Persist in the Puerto Rico Food Stamp Prcgrau, the
N. ones Largest. CED-78-8; B-5160. April 27, 1978. 55 pp. + 3
ai tndices (18 pp.).
Rw.jrt to Sen. james B. Allen; by Else E. Staatv. Comptrouler
General.
Issue Area: Income Security Programs:- rogrzu onitoring &and
Administration (1303); Food: Domestic Feeling wrograns for
School Children and the Poor (1710).
Contact: Community and Economic Develcpment Div.
Budget Function: Income Security: Putlic Assistan,e and Other
Income Supplesents 4604).
Orqanization Concern* : Department of Agriuulture; Food and
Nutrition Service; Puerto Rico.
Conqressional Relevance: House Conittee on Agxicnlture; Seratd
Committee on Agriculture. Nutrition, and Forestry. Sen.
James B. Allea.
Authority: Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended (7 U.S.C. 11).
Food Stamp Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-113, title 1I1; 91 Stat.
913; 91 Stat. 958). (P.L. 91-6.1; 84 Stat. 2048).
In 1971, legislation vas enacted which authcrized the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to participate in tha fond stamp
program; today the Puerto Rico program is the iargest fccd stamp
operation in the Nation in terms of both the percentage of
population participating and the total value of stas z issued
monthly. Findings/conclusions: Problems have existed in the
Puerto Rico program since it began, tut little was dcne in the
past by the Commonwealth or the Food and Nutrition Service to
solve the problems. Auditors found accountability deficiencies,
resulting from problems reported in 1974, and cther trotless
such as: lack of documentation suportitig retroactive benefit
issuances, inadequate monitoring of Com~onwealth personncl who
both participated in the program and administeted it, and
failure to identify questionable authorization card redemptions.
Corrective action by the Commonwealth was delayed without
adequate explanation. Recently, more substantial actions have
been takeik to improve program performance. 1here is a need,
however, for improvement in computer system opexaticns ii, rder
to correct problems in program service arid accourtability. The
Secretary of Agriculture should have t',j Adzinist itcr, Focd and
Nutrition Service: direct that the Service steeril.j committee
formed to help resolve Puerto Rico food stamp management
problems address the program management deficiencies outlined;
form a technical assistance group zestonsible for the long-term
improvement of the Cosmonvealth's food stamp computer system;
and require the Commonweolth, with technical assistance from the
computer group, to undertake a series of corrective actions for
improving the computer system. (Authcr/iHI)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaaxeu0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)