Jenniffer González announces approval of legislation for economic development, security and recovery funds for Puerto Rico

Washington D.C.- The federal House of Representatives approved today two measures that include initiatives by the Resident Commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón, to include a feasibility study for the development of an Air Cargo Center in Puerto Rico; provisions to examine security at the maritime border; funds to address children's mental health and for the recovery of the island from the impact of Hurricane Maria, as well as to finance several federal programs.

The H.R. 302 as amended, the Reauthorization Act of the Federal Aviation Administration includes a title on disaster recovery that will benefit communities devastated by the 2017 hurricane season including Puerto Rico.

This measure includes the proposal that the Congresswoman worked to authorize that a study be carried out for the development of an Air Cargo Center in Puerto Rico as an alternative to reactivate and diversify the economic base of the island and be able to get out of the crisis that followed Hurricane Maria and have long-term stable economic growth. Gonzalez's amendments were included in the project.

The reauthorization of the FAA also incorporates the Maritime Border Security Review Act into its transport security provisions, legislation drafted by the commissioner that was approved unanimously by the House earlier this month.

This language would help to better understand the challenges facing the United States along its maritime border by requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a detailed analysis of the threats to the region and the maritime transit zones of the Caribbean.

This initiative is part of the congresswoman's commitment to improve national security measures and guarantee the security of citizens. The bill includes provisions that require an assessment of terrorism and criminal threats along the maritime border, the necessary improvements in US seaports to reduce criminal activity and current vulnerabilities that impede effective border security. To better understand these and other threats, H.R. 5869 further requires that the Secretary of Homeland Security consider the technology and personnel needs at the maritime border, the role of the application of state and local law in maritime security activities at the border; the geographical challenges of the maritime boundary; and, the impact of last year's devastating hurricanes on general border security activities at the maritime border.

These initiatives of the Commissioner, had already been approved in previous measures in the Federal Chamber, but for them to advance in the Senate and reach the signature of the President, he joined the H.R. 302 as amended, which requires prompt approval to include provisions of the Federal Aviation Administration that would expire on September 30.

The measure also prompts an investigation into the awning installation contracts that were generated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The Chamber also gave way to the second Joint Appropriations Project, called a "minibus" for the 2019 federal Fiscal Year that combines two projects of allocations of funds for regular jobs or programs (not reconstruction or emergency) in areas of: Defense; and Work, Health and Education. This project was approved by the Senate on September 18 and now with the approval of the House passes to the signature of the President.

In this "minibus", it also included a continuation resolution to keep the federal government open until December 7, in which the remaining appropriation projects are approved.

The measure includes funds for federal programs applicable to Puerto Rico such as $ 10.1 billion for Head Start programs ($ 200 million more than the last budget) and $ 1.06 billion for the TRIO program that offers support to its participants in the process of admission to a program. Higher education institution as a university. For this educational program, the commissioner has advocated the permanence and increase of funds.

In this measure, there is $ 3,000,000 that would be allocated directly to the island to provide services for the mental health of minors in Puerto Rico, from the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative that the commissioner has promoted since the hurricane.

"We have been able to include our initiatives in this reauthorization project that has already been coordinated with the Senate and once approved will go to the President's signature. These initiatives address the issues of safety, health and economic development of the island, "said González Colón.