Federal House of Representatives Approves 3 Amendments by Jenniffer González for Puerto Rico

Press Release

The House of Representatives approved three amendments by the resident commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón, to HR 2500, the National Security Defense Act (NDAA), which are now under consideration in the federal Senate.

The amendments seek to expedite the cleanup of munitions in Vieques and Culebra, prioritize security in the Caribbean, as well as the evaluation of vessels necessary for disaster response.

In June, the commissioner took Vieques and Culebra personnel from the Navy (NAVY) and the Corps of Engineers (USACE), respectively, to inspect the cleanup and disposal of munitions. The commissioner urged the agencies present to pledge all their resources to accelerate the work for the early enjoyment of the zones.

In this regard, the amendment of the resident commissioner states that Congress urges the Secretary of Defense to "explore all the ways and alternatives to accelerate the process of environmental cleanup and restoration in Vieques and Culebra; the Department of Defense is instructed to work with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Government of Puerto Rico to ensure that the decontamination process is conducted in a manner that causes the least possible intrusion into lives of the residents of the islands and minimize the risks to public health; and that the federal government collaborate with local and private stakeholders to effectively address the economic challenges and opportunities in Vieques, Culebra and the adjacent communities of the former Roosevelt Road Naval Base. "

Amendment 629 directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete a study and submit a report to the Congress defense committees on the status of the federal cleanup and decontamination process at the former military training sites located in Vieques and Snake. The study should include an analysis of the rhythm of the ongoing environmental restoration efforts and the possible challenges and alternatives to accelerate the completion of this process.

Amendment number 501 seeks for the Department of Defense to evaluate the role of the watercraft system that keeps the Army (ARMY) in operations after natural disasters, threats and emergencies before deactivating them. The Puerto Rico Army National Guard has four of these vessels that were key to providing supplies to Vieques, Culebra and the Virgin Islands after Hurricane Maria. This amendment seeks to have that role considered before deactivating any of the vessels in the states and territories.

As part of the efforts to fight crime in Puerto Rico, the commissioner presented the amendment number 630 that stipulates the will of Congress "that the fight against international criminal organizations and the illicit traffic of narcotics in the transit zone and in the basin of the Caribbean, particularly in and around Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, is fundamental to the national security of the United States; that the Department of Defense (DoD) must work with the Department of Homeland Security and other relevant partners to improve surveillance capabilities and maximize the effectiveness of antidrug operations in the region; and that the Secretary of Defense should, to the greatest extent possible,

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