Giving Compass' Take:

• H. Claire Brown at The New Food Economy explains how and why Puerto Rico is facing a major food crisis: Regulations, a finite amount of money for all of its residents, and insufficient disaster relief amongst other things.

• What can lawmakers do to help push support to Puerto Rico's economy? 

• Learn about growing an agricultural revolution in Puerto Rico. 

Earlier this month, an estimated 1.3 million Puerto Ricans saw a precipitous fall in their food assistance dollars. The cause? Congress failed to reauthorize a disaster-aid package that would have provided $600 million in extra funding for food stamps in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

As The Washington Post reports, the funding is included in a $13-billion disaster bill that is advancing through the Senate. But the future of the legislation was thrown into jeopardy on Wednesday evening as Democrats pushed for additional funding for the island’s recovery and Republicans dug in their heels in response.

Yet while the current shortage has shed fresh light on the shortcomings in Puerto Rico’s food assistance program, its problems trace back to the 1980s, when President Ronald Reagan’s administration pushed to change its funding structure.

Read the full article on Puerto Rico's food crisis by H. Claire Brown at The New Food Economy.