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Proposal of $ 600 million for NAP is still alive in the Senate

January 24, 2019

Washington, D.C. -Congresswoman Jenniffer González Colón, announced that the senator for the state of Florida, Rick Scott, pleaded in the Federal Senate for funds, by filing an amendment to the bill that would be financed by the federal government. Assigning an additional $ 600 million to the Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN) to the island.

"I am thrilled to have a partner in the U.S. Senate that makes Puerto Rico a priority. As Governor, Senator Scott was there when Puerto Rico needed it most – and he has already proven that he will be a voice for Puerto Rico in the Senate. This funding is so important to help Puerto Rico continue to recover after Hurricane Maria, and I thank Senator Scott for taking quick action to make this happen. I look forward to working closely with Senator Scott to support the Puerto Rican community", said Congresswoman Gonzalez.

"The most important thing to every American is action over words. In Florida, we took aggressive action to support Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican community before Hurricane Maria even made landfall, but our work isn't done. Puerto Rico's success is America's success and Puerto Rico's recovery is America's recovery. Today, I'm introducing an amendment to ensure that Puerto Rico has the resources they need to continue to rebuild and recover. Puerto Rico does not have a voice in the United States Senate. I intend to be that voice. I'm proud to fight for the people of Puerto Rico and will continue to do everything I can to take action for the Puerto Rican community, both in Florida and on the island, "said Senator Rick Scott.

González Colón, started the new Congress 116 advocating for an allocation of $ 600 million for the beneficiaries of the Nutritional Assistance Program (PAN) which was achieved by including in the House version the bill of supplementary allocation.

The inclusion of the amendment to the bill was given after the efforts of the Congresswoman in different committees both in the past Congress and in this one. During the month of May, the Congresswoman presented an amendment to the H.R. 2, known as the "Farm Bill", advocating for additional funds for the PAN. Then, in December, González met with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Governor of Puerto Rico and Congressmen Serrano, Velázquez and Espaillat where they discussed this and other bills for Puerto Rico. In addition, this year the Congresswoman sent a letter to the new leadership of the Appropriations Committee, in charge of allocating funds, so that the new package of supplementary aid for disasters, include $ 600 million.

In the midst of negotiations for the federal closure, the allocation of $ 600 million was strongly defended by the Congresswoman when the allocation by the federal Budget Office was questioned "to say that the $ 600 million in additional funds for the Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN) in Puerto Rico - an assignment that has bipartisan support in Congress - is "excessive and unnecessary" is wrong and does a disservice to the 3.2 million American citizens on the island, "he said on that occasion.

On Wednesday, the Congresswoman sent another letter to the leadership of the Senate and the Appropriations Committee to include the necessary extension of $ 600 million to the PAN and 100% of the cost sharing for debris removal for Puerto Rico.