Urges Congress to permit sale of fruits and other agricultural products from Puerto Rico on United States mainland.

AR113

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 113

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

SYNOPSIS

���� Urges Congress to permit sale of fruits and other
agricultural products from Puerto Rico on United States mainland.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Assembly
Resolution

urging Congress to allow
fruits and other agricultural products from Puerto Rico to be sold on the
United States mainland.�

Whereas,

The United States Department of Agriculture�s Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service prohibits or restricts the movement of many agricultural
products from Puerto Rico to the United States mainland; and

Whereas,

These products include most fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, pork, and pork
products; and

Whereas,

The reasons cited for these restrictions include the risk of invasive pests and
other diseases that can be transmitted to plants grown in the contiguous United
States; and

Whereas,

Those who travel between the United States mainland and Puerto Rico must have
their bags inspected prior to their departure to the mainland to ensure no
prohibited items are being carried and those who fail to declare the items are
subject to fines up to $1000; and

Whereas,

Currently, those who wish to bring prohibited items into or through the United
States mainland on their way to another country will need a transit permit and to
comply with federal regulations restricting how the items are packaged and
stored; and

Whereas,

Certain provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly referred to as
the �Jones Act�, require that shipping between two United States ports be with
ships built and registered in the United States, owned by American companies,
and manned by a crew of United States citizens or permanent residents; and

Whereas,

These additional requirements increase shipping costs for Puerto Rican
producers as goods are primarily transported by sea; and

Whereas,

A series of natural disasters has impacted agricultural lands in Puerto Rico reducing
the amount of produce the island is able to produce for themselves and export
to other nations; and

Whereas,

These changes to agricultural lands simultaneously increased Puerto Rico�s
imports to the island, which also increased expenditures; and

Whereas,

Allowing Puerto Rican agricultural products to be sold to the United States
mainland could support economic recovery while maintaining appropriate plant
and agricultural protections; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� This House respectfully
urges Congress to allow fruits and other agricultural products from Puerto Rico
to be sold in the United States.�

���� 2.��� Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Clerk of the General Assembly to the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the
House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United
States Senate, and each member of Congress elected from this State.�

STATEMENT

���� Currently, the United States bans
the movement of fresh fruits and vegetables and other agricultural products from
Puerto Rico to the mainland to be sold.� The United States Department of
Agriculture�s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service conducts baggage
checks for travelers to ensure the banned items are not brought to the United
States mainland.� Those who wish to send prohibited items to the United States mainland
are required to obtain permits and comply with storage regulations and shipping
laws.�

���� Natural disasters in Puerto
Rico have diminished their farmland�s capacity to produce fruits and other
resources.� The shipping restrictions in effect increase shipping costs for
Puerto Rican farmers who export their goods.� Lifting the prohibition on Puerto
Rico�s ability to sell fruits and other agricultural products on the United
States mainland could support their economic recovery while maintaining
appropriate plant and agricultural protections.� �