Jenniffer González announces $6.2 million for the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board, Head Start and Healthcare

Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Jenniffer González Colón, announced the approval of $6,240,193 in federal funds appropriated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Environmental Control Board and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for child care services, health services and for Centers of Control and Disease Prevention (CDC).

This new allocation of funds of $105,600.00 will help the Environmental Quality Board to continue its water quality management planning program to improve impaired water work to improve deteriorated water. This state program is designed to increase public awareness and understanding regarding the protection and improvement of water quality.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Administration of Children and Families, allocated these funds that are given under Disaster Assistance to Head Start Centers; this allocation is part of the funds for the recovery from the impact of the hurricanes of 2017, which was included by the commissioner for Puerto Rico in the Bipartisan Budget Act of February 2018.

Among the Head Start centers that received funds for social services for children, the Christian Military Academy received $ 229,826; Quintana Baptist Church received $ 925,875; and the Municipality of Canóvanas received $ 146,000. Under the Head Start and Early Head Start program, the Centro de Servicios a la Juventud,Inc. received $ 3,569,884.

Under the funds allocated by HHS under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) program, the Puerto Rico Department of Health received $ 182,898 for Primary Care Offices. Additionally, the Department of Health of Puerto Rico received an allocation of $ 1,080,110 for the prevention and control of chronic diseases and associated risks for CDC centers.