Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Full Committee Insular Affairs
Chair Grijalva Leads Letter Demanding Answers, Action Plan From Trump Admin on Puerto Rico’s Critically Low Census Response
Washington D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) sent a letter today with 18 Members of Congress to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham seeking an explanation of the administration's plan to address Puerto Rico's critically low levels of 2020 Census response. Only 24.9 percent of Puerto Ricans have filled out the Census so far, well short of the state average Census response rate of 61.5 percent. The letter, available at https://bit.ly/3… Continue Reading
07.16.20
House Chairs Question Secretary DeVos’s Delay Distributing COVID-19 Relief for Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON D.C. - In a letter to Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) demanded an explanation for why the Department has delayed distributing emergency educational relief for Puerto Rico. Congress designated $400 million in the CARES Act to help Puerto Rico address immediate educational needs, and the Department has only disbursed $7 million, … Continue Reading
07.01.20
Chair Grijalva Hails House Infrastructure Package – Highlights Advances on Water Infrastructure, Habitat and Coastal Protection, Tribal & Territorial Funding
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today hailed House passage of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, and highlighted the many environmental conservation and water availability improvements the bill includes. A fact sheet laying out the bill's improvements in the Natural Resources Committee's jurisdiction is available at https://bit.ly/31BWJP2, Highlights include: Investing in modern water infrastructure projects that will provide reliable water supplies in a changing clim… Continue Reading
05.28.20
Ahead Of The Upcoming Hurricane Season In The Caribbean, Chair Grijalva Joins Sen. Schumer, Rep. Velázquez and Democratic Lawmakers In Seeking Answers on How FEMA Is Preparing To Respond To Storms That Hit Puerto Rico And The U.S. Virgin Islands
Washington, D.C. - House Natural Resources Chair Raúl M. Grijalva joined United States Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), in sending a letter with 39 Members of Congress to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ahead of the upcoming hurricane season in the Caribbean, seeking answers to how FEMA is preparing to respond to a storm that hits Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands amidst the numerous other ongoing disasters a… Continue Reading
05.22.20
Chair Grijalva Leads Introduction of “Amendments to PROMESA Act” to Stabilize Puerto Rican Economy, Stop Austerity Cuts, Guarantee Services Funding
This press release has been updated from the original published version to include additional endorsing organizations and to correct a name. Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today introduced the Amendments to PROMESA Act, which prioritizes funding for public health care, education, safety, pensions and the University of Puerto Rico, creates a publicly funded commission to audit Puerto Rico's debt, and gives the Puerto Rican government the option to discharge unsecured … Continue Reading
05.19.20
Chair Grijalva, Bipartisan Lawmakers Urge Trump Administration to Prioritize Distribution of Coronavirus Resources to U.S. Territories
Washington, D.C. - Natural Resources Chair Raúl M. Grijalva and 12 bipartisan members of Congress sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar yesterday urging him to consider the vulnerable economic and public health infrastructure in the U.S. Territories when determining criteria for prioritizing the distribution of coronavirus resources. The full letter, available online at https://bit.ly/3cGJsat, was signed by Committee Vice Chair Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sabla… Continue Reading
05.12.20
Chair Grijalva Joins Sanders, Velázquez, Colleagues in Unveiling Legislation to Provide Nutrition Assistance to Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa
Washington D.C. - Today, Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) and Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) introduced the Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2020 today to ensure that in the face of the economic, public-health, and food-security crises posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the people of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa receive equal access to the Supplemental Nutritio… Continue Reading
04.30.20
Chair Grijalva Leads Letter to Treasury Department Pressing for Immediate Disbursement of Improperly Delayed COVID-19 Stimulus Checks in Puerto Rico
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today led a bicameral letter with 15 other Democratic lawmakers pressing the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service to disburse overdue funds to Puerto Ricans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawmakers point out that Puerto Rican officials sent Treasury and the IRS a draft plan for the disbursement of stimulus checks to residents on April 8, but federal officials have yet to approve i… Continue Reading
04.29.20
Chairs Grijalva, Velázquez: PPP Loan Distribution Must be Equitable for Small Businesses in U.S. Territories
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) today sent a letter to the Department of the Treasury and Small Business Administration (SBA) on disparities in the allocation of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in U.S. territories. New data shows that aid is not being allocated proportionately to U.S. territories. For example, Puerto Rico, which accounts for approximately 1 percent of the population of… Continue Reading
04.01.20
Chair Grijalva, Rep. Sablan Write to FEMA Chief for Assurances on Virus Response in U.S. Territories in Light of Natural Disasters, Weak Finances
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Gregorio Sablan (D-CNMI) sent a letter this morning to Pete Gaynor, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, seeking more information on the administration's COVID-19 response plans in U.S. territories, where weak economies and recent natural disasters are now putting hundreds of thousands of Americans at particular risk. In the letter, available at https://bit.ly/2xFz17z, the lawmakers ask Gaynor for a briefi… Continue Reading
03.27.20
Chair Grijalva Hails Coronavirus Relief Package – Highlights Financial Assistance for Indian Country and U.S. Territories, Urges More Support in Future Bills
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today said the passage of the CARES Act is a good step forward in the federal government's ongoing effort to build up health care capacity in historically underserved and at-risk communities, including Native American tribes and U.S. territories, and urged his colleagues to include further financial and logistical support for hard-hit communities in upcoming legislation. Grijalva has been a leading voice in Congress since the beginning o… Continue Reading
03.20.20
Chair Grijalva, Natural Resources Committee Launch New Coronavirus Resource Center, Seek Impact Information from Indian Country
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and the majority staff of the House Natural Resources Committee are seeking information from Native American communities impacted by coronavirus on the level of governmental response they've seen, the status of their health and social safety needs, and how Congress and other agencies can better serve them during the pandemic. The Committee has set up an online form available at https://bit.ly/2IZFWur and is now welcoming input from tribe… Continue Reading
02.07.20
Chair Grijalva Votes for Emergency Puerto Rico Earthquake Funding, Criticizes President Trump for Failing the People of Puerto Rico
Washington D.C. - Today Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) spoke on the House floor in favor of H.R. 5687, which provides $4.67 billion in emergency funding to Puerto Rico following 12 earthquakes of greater than 5.0 magnitude that have destroyed homes and infrastructure, led to major rockslides, and caused at least one fatality on the island. The bill provides funds to invest in community development, restart school operations, fund technical assistance related … Continue Reading
02.04.20
New Report Details Damage Caused by Earthquakes in Puerto Rico, Actions Needed to Help Island Recover
Washington D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva released a new report today based on firsthand Committee staff reviews of recent earthquake damage in Puerto Rico. The report provides lessons learned during a Committee research trip in January and suggests a series of actions to speed recovery for the people of Puerto Rico. The full report is available online at http://bit.ly/2SmDpig. Since Dec. 28, 2019, Puerto Rico has experienced a series of seismic events, inclu… Continue Reading
01.17.20
Chair Grijalva Slams Trump Administration Conditions for Puerto Rico Disaster Aid, Announces Staff Delegation to Review Damage and Reconstruction
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva today said the Trump administration's five-day delay in responding to Puerto Rican Gov. Wanda Vazquez's request for a major disaster declaration - and its newly announced, completely unreasonable conditions for releasing the disaster relief aid it has illegally withheld from Puerto Rico since Hurricane Mariacaused $90 billion in damages in 2017 - are definitive proof that the island can expect no meaningful support from the White House or Republic… Continue Reading
01.07.20
Rep. Grijalva: La administración Trump debe corregir las fallas con los fondos federales del huracán María y proveer asistencia inmediata a Puerto Rico luego de los recientes sismos
Washington, D.C. - Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), presidente del Comité de Recursos Naturales, anunció que el Comité está monitoreando los esfuerzos de emergencia en la costa suroeste de Puerto Rico tras los sismos de magnitud 6.4 y 5.6 de esta mañana. Grijalva solicitó a la administración Trump que desembolse los fondos de recuperación del huracán María, y se prepare para proveerle asistencia de emergencia a la isla luego… Continue Reading
01.07.20
Chair Grijalva: Trump Administration Must Correct Past Mismanagement, Immediately Release Aid to Puerto Rico Following Recent Earthquakes
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) this morning said the Natural Resources Committee is closely monitoring relief efforts following magnitude 6.4 and 5.6 earthquakes originating in southwestern Puerto Rico. Grijalva called on the Trump administration to disburse still unused Hurricane Maria disaster recovery funding and prepare to release earthquake disaster aid without delay. Thanks in large part to the lack of federal response, the island and its people are still strug… Continue Reading
11.21.19
Chair Grijalva, Reps. Velázquez and Soto Respond to Puerto Rico Fiscal Board Filing That Seeks to Block Lawmakers’ PREPA Amicus Brief
Washington D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Small Business Committee Chair Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) responded yesterday to a filing by the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority that sought to block consideration of the amicus brief the trio of lawmakers filed last month. A federal judge is expected to rule as soon as this week on wh… Continue Reading
10.30.19
Chair Grijalva Leads Amicus Brief With Reps. Velázquez and Soto Opposing PREPA Debt Restructuring Agreement
Washington D.C. - Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico expressing opposition to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA). Grijalva's brief was signed by Small Business Committee Chair Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), both members of the Natural Resources Committee. Grijalva, Velázquez and Soto have helped lead ove… Continue Reading
10.21.19
Chair Grijalva, Insular Delegates Introduce Historic Bipartisan Resolution Rejecting Racist & Imperialist Language in U.S. Supreme Court Insular Cases
Washington D.C. - Last Friday, Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced a bipartisan resolution with Rep. Gregorio Sablan (D-CNMI), Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-USVI), Rep. Michael San Nicolas (D-Guam), and Rep. Jenniffer González-Colon (R-PR) rejecting the racist and imperialist language present in the U.S. Supreme Court decisions referred to as the Insular Cases. These cases were decided in the early 20th century and establish the relationship between th… Continue Reading