Comunicados de Prensa
House Democrats pass Puerto Rico earthquake relief bill, but White House opposes it
Washington,
February 7, 2020
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Carlos Condarco
(2022253931)
The House of Representatives passed a $4.7 billion Puerto Rican disaster relief bill on Friday after the island’s was infrastructure was damaged by 2,100 earthquakes since December, but the effort faces an uncertain future after the White House vowed to oppose the effort. The bill, which passed 237-161 with 17 Republicans joining all Democrats present to vote in favor, now heads to the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate. Miami-Dade’s entire House delegation, including Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, voted in favor of the bill. “From what I hear, there are several senators who are backing the bill,” Miami Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell said. “I don’t understand why this president, who keeps touting the economy and how well the United States is doing, refuses to help one of its [territories]. They are American citizens, I just wanted to remind the president.” Democrats say the additional funds are necessary because the $39 billion in disaster aid given to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017 must be used for hurricane-related damage. Roads and bridges in the southwestern part of Puerto Rico that were damaged or destroyed by earthquakes and not hurricanes will need to be rebuilt with a separate pot of money, they said.“The seismic activity has not stopped. Every day the infrastructure weakens,” Republican Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González said on the House floor. “The anxiety of the people on the island grows. In order to get this legislation enacted into law, it is imperative to have the input on both sides of the aisle.” But earlier this week the White House Office of Management and Budget vowed to oppose the bill due to corruption concerns. “Neither Puerto Ricans nor the American taxpayers benefit when emergency aid is misallocated, lost or stolen through waste, fraud and abuse,” the veto message said. “Multiple high-profile cases of corruption have marred distribution of aid already appropriated and have led to ongoing political instability on the island.” After the veto threat was issued, González issued a statement where she stressed that the White House would eventually approve some kind of aid package after consulting with the Senate. “This is not the first time that the Office of Management and Budgeting is opposed to measures of funds for Puerto Rico,” González said in a statement. “In all of those instances, I have been able to secure funds for the island and the president’s signature on those measures. This process is only beginning. The need exists and that is why I will defend and continue to push for this approval.” She also defended herself from arguments that she’s an ineffective voice when it comes to dealing with the White House. González said every disaster relief bill “was always signed by the president once it reaches his desk” even if the White House initially voiced objections. “My record of results is clear,” González said. Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, one of the most vocal advocates for Puerto Rico in the Senate, said in a statement he’s “reviewing” the House bill. “He is in constant communication with the Island’s leadership, FEMA, and has spoken to the president about the importance of quickly getting aid to Puerto Rico,” Scott spokesperson Chris Hartline said in a statement. He said Scott has met with Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez and González this week “to discuss the resources Puerto Rico needs to recover from the earthquakes, and he will always work to support our brothers and sisters on the island.” Republican Sen. Marco Rubio did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the legislation. Republicans opposed to the bill said giving more money to Puerto Rico does nothing to help disaster victims. “We don’t need to stand here and see who can out Puerto Rico the other,” said Republican Rep. Garrett Graves of Louisiana. “It’s not a money problem. We have policy problems. There are literally tens of billions dollars in the bank today that we are unable to get to disaster victims. Dumping more money on top of the $40 billion in the disaster relief fund...that doesn’t solve the problem. When you investigate this, I assure you will come back to understand this is a capacity problem. Getting the dollars to the disaster victims, that’s why were having the problem today.” The bill includes $3.26 billion in community development block grants, a program for long-term disaster recovery administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that some conservatives routinely oppose. It also includes $1.25 billion for repairs to roads, and tens of millions more for schools, energy and nutrition assistance. Miami Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala successfully offered an amendment that actually increased the amount of aid by $1 million for a study on the effects on educational attainment and well-being of students who have their education disrupted due to a natural disaster. Shalala’s amendment passed on a 257-149 vote, with 31 Republicans joining all Democrats present to vote in favor. “Our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico have suffered greatly in the last few years,” Shalala said. “These disasters have resulted in Puerto Ricans leaving the island, and many are children or young adults that are still in school. The truth is, we don’t know the best way to help children who have to leave their homes to pursue their education. Unfortunately, there will be more Marias...this study will guide us on the most effective policies and most effective ways we can use disaster funds to help our children.” |