House Passes Puerto Rico Debt Crisis Legislation; Senate Poised to Pass Bill Before July 1

international | politics / elections | news report

Friday June 10, 2016 15:19

by Greg Williams

The House passed Puerto Rico debt crisis legislation 297-127. The Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act now heads to the US Senate for approval.

"The bill was a compromise and it's encouraging that Republicans and Democrats came together to pass this bill," said Eric LeCompte, who testified to Congress on the legislation and who is the executive director of the religious development coalition Jubilee USA. "We were grateful to see unanimous support to pass our amendment to address child poverty on the island."

An amendment sponsored by Representatives Jolly [R-FL] and Curbelo [R-FL] to recommend policies to end child poverty on the island passed unanimously by a voice vote. The child poverty amendment was supported by Jubilee USA, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, the Union of Reform Judaism and the Church of the Brethren. The House also approved an amendment to allow a Puerto Rico commission to continue auditing the territory's debt.

"The House took a powerful action by protecting the continuing investigative work of the debt audit commission." shared LeCompte. "I'm glad that Representatives Serrano and Velázquez won approval for their amendment to support the Puerto Rico debt audit." 

The Senate version of the bill is poised to pass with a similar level of bipartisan support. 

 "Speaker Ryan, Chair Bishop, Ranking Member Grijalva and Representatives Duffy, Velázquez, Serrano, Pierluisi and Young deserve credit for shaping and passing this bill," stated LeCompte. "Because a group of Republicans and Democrats put Puerto Rico's people first and special interests second, we have a meaningful bill."

Jubilee USA Network is an alliance of more than 75 US organizations and 550 faith communities working with 50 Jubilee global partners. Jubilee USA builds an economy that serves, protects and promotes the participation of the most vulnerable. Jubilee USA has won critical global financial reforms and more than $130 billion in debt relief to benefit the world's poorest people. www.jubileeusa.org

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House Passes Puerto Rico Debt Crisis Legislation; Senate Poised to Pass Bill Before July 1