Rep. Larson Votes for Puerto Rico Earthquake Relief Funding

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release:

Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for an emergency supplemental appropriations bill that provides support to Puerto Rico following a series of recent, ongoing earthquakes. The legislation provides $4.67 billion in assistance to Puerto Rico funding urgent educational needs, repairs to severely damaged infrastructure, nutrition assistance, and economic revitalization projects.

"The urgent needs of our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico have not been met as the island has experienced numerous natural disasters since Hurricane Maria struck in 2017. The recent earthquakes have only set back the recovery efforts, and forced thousands of families out of their homes again," said Larson. "The Trump Administration illegally withheld Congressionally directed aid to Puerto Rico for over two years. This package includes accountability measures to ensure this does not happen again. Americans in Puerto Rico need help and deserve this vital aid to put the island on a path to sustainable recovery."

The bill includes:

* Tax relief for residents of Puerto Rico, including enhancements the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Low-Income Housing Credit, and the New Markets Tax Credit.

* $6.75 million for technical assistance to conduct earthquake risk analysis, enhance long-term energy planning, improve energy sector situational awareness, and strengthen cybersecurity of critical infrastructure;

* $15 million for technical assistance to enhance real-time situational awareness and continued recovery support of the electric grid;

* $100 million to meet the educational needs of individuals affected by recent disasters and emergencies;

* $1.25 billion for repairs to road systems damaged by recent disasters and emergencies;

* $3.26 billion in Community Development Block Grants - Disaster Recovery funds for disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, economic revitalization, and mitigation;

* $40 million for disaster nutrition assistance in Puerto Rico;

* A mandatary requirement that HUD must execute grant agreements within 60 days of grant approval;

* A mandatary requirement that HUD, in consultation with other Federal agencies, must complete the consultation on electrical grid funding for Puerto Rico within 30 days and to issue a Federal Register notice within 60 days.