Congress passed a bill on Monday night, known as the omnibus, that brings together several topics in a single measure, this time the budget to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2021, the new federal support for the COVID-19 and the law for water resources development (WRDA), resident commissioner Jenniffer González Colón reported Tuesday.
“I am pleased to report that Congress has included my measure to make the island eligible for the WaterSMART grants and drought-resistance project grants, providing us with more tools to reduce drought and strengthen our water infrastructure “said the commissioner. Resident in a written statement.
“It includes additional funds we advocate for the PAN, an increase in authorized costs for the Caño Martín Peña, as well as language to advance water projects on the island and to help the National Science Foundation (NSF, for its acronym in English) to to attend the collapse of the Arecibo Observatory radio telescope, ”explains González Colón.
Standard of authorship of the commissioner included in the mailbox
The commissioner managed to introduce into measure HR 6050, Puerto Rico WaterSMART Grants Eligibility Act, legislation that will enable the island to apply for an eligible jurisdiction for WaterSMART and Drought Resiliency Project grants from the Recovery Office of the Department of the Interior United.
“Recently, the island was in a period of drought, which is not something now, but for years the island has been struggling with conservation and efficiency problems in water management. With this legislation, Puerto Rico will have access to grants for the development of projects that deliver measurable water savings, projects aimed at efficiency in water conservation and use, financing options for the development of commercialization strategies to include markets for water, ”said the commissioner.
Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)
The WRDA law of 2020 was included as part of the bus, and in it the commissioner managed to include a measure to increase the allowable costs for the implementation of the Caño Martín Peña’s environmental restoration project from $ 150 million to $ 255,816,000 .
In turn, it includes language to approve flood control projects in the Culebrinas River, the Grande de Manatí River and the Guayanilla River in Puerto Rico.
It also authorizes $ 10 million for the repeated mapping of rapidly changing coasts, including the coasts of Alaska, Hawaii and the territories of the United States.
Budget for financial year 2021
Funds and language included in the bill administered by the Commissioner on behalf of Puerto Rico
Agriculture: About $ 2 billion under regular funds from the Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN); $ 2 million for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Island Grant Program; and $ 2 million for the reimbursement program for transportation costs for farmers and ranchers in geographically disadvantaged areas.
NOAA
$ 75 million for the National University Sea Grant Program, including the Puerto Rico Sea Grant to the University of Puerto Rico; $ 40.5 million for the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) or Regional Observations, which includes the Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS) in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
About $ 28.5 million for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), which includes the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve; $ 78 million for Coastal Zone Management Grants, which provide annual grants to the Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program administered by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.
It addresses the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to include the territories in the Economics: National Ocean Watch (ENOW), a dataset developed by the agency to develop economic measures of ocean industries. To support this effort, $ 700,000 will be allocated.
Arecibo Observatory
González Colón, along with Congressman Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), managed to add language to address the collapse of the Arecibo Observatory radio telescope by ordering the National Science Foundation (NSF) to report back to the Congress within 60 days of the promulgation of this law on damage, remediation and the process to determine the emergence of similar technology.
“Congress recognized that the Arecibo Observatory radio telescope has not only been a scientific treasure for our island for the past 57 years, but that it has also been an integral part of our nation’s and international community’s capabilities to advance in the field. of scientific research, ”said the Resident Commissioner.
On December 4, the commissioner asked the leadership of the Science, Space and Technology Commission of the United States House of Representatives for a public hearing to discuss what happened to the collapse of the Arecibo Observatory radio telescope, as well as the follow steps to continue the works and study in the center.
USACE
$ 4,070,000 has been allocated for operation and maintenance work to dredge the fairways of the Port of San Juan; $ 126,000 for the inspection of projects completed by the Corps of Engineers in Puerto Rico; $ 100,000 for project condition inspections in Puerto Rico.
The bill includes language that recognizes Caño Martín Peña’s importance, as well as the damage it suffered from Hurricanes Irma and María, and supports the uptake of the funds needed to advance the project to the next stages . This includes the construction phase.
Transport
$ 2.7 million for the Puerto Rico Highways Program
Military constructions
$ 37 million for the Fort Allen National Guard Readiness Center.
national security
$ 29.2 million for the transition of the Coast Guard’s Borinquen Air Station in Aguadilla from MH-65 helicopters to MH-60 improving the effectiveness of border security missions, search and rescue due to its increased capacity for people and teams and its longest time on stage.
Another $ 2.5 million to expand the Coast Guard’s ability to address the Western Hemisphere’s maritime transit zone on multiple levels. The transit zones are areas of seven million square miles encompassing the marine corridors of the Western Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Eastern Pacific).
About $ 400,000 to support the operation and maintenance of the National Security Investigations Division of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service’s (ICE) Tactical Communications System, previously completed in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, which will help minimize and minimize layoffs the communication gaps that exist between divisions of the Department of Homeland Security and other federal, state and local partners in the northern Caribbean.
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Language previously taken up by the House and Senate is reaffirmed as they reject the closure of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico.
About $ 85.4 million for the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program, which includes funds for updating the national seismic hazard map and expanding it to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
$ 700,000 per estuary for the National Estuary Program, which includes the San Juan Bay Estuary Program in Puerto Rico.
Authorizes the allocation of funds under the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund for priority deferred maintenance projects in Puerto Rico federal parks. Specifically, under the National Park Service’s list of projects, funds will be provided to stabilize the cliff at San Fernando Bastion on the San Juan National Historic Site. Likewise, under the United States Forest Service’s list of priority projects, funds will be allocated to two projects in the El Yunque National Forest: (1) the El Portal Replacement Project and Visitor Enhancements and (2) the Arboles Reconstruction Project Grandes / La Mina path.
Law
The agreement reaffirms the language assured by the resident commissioner in the House report mandating the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to improve the availability, collection, and publication of crime statistics for Puerto Rico and the rest. of the territories.
The Federal Attorney General is urged to adhere to the guidelines in the House Report, promoted by the Resident Commissioner, to report on initiatives to combat violent crime in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Justice Department, in turn, is focused on evaluating its strategies to help Puerto Rico fight crime and consider the possibility of providing additional federal resources as needed.
Also included in the can is the new federal COVID-19 incentive agreement that includes a new $ 600 check for individuals and an additional $ 600 for underage individuals; $ 300 a week for unemployment up to 11 weeks, $ 325 billion to help our merchants through PPP loans, health funds, housing assistance, and other amenities applicable to the island.