Jenniffer Gonzalez Announces $121 Million in Federal Funds for Reconstruction, Recreation and Health

Press Release

The resident commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón, detailed the new items of federal funds that add up to $121,635,484.63, this time from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of the Interior and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

"Many programs, institutions or activities can carry out their agendas in Puerto Rico thanks to the federal appropriations that originate in Congress. Defending these funds for the island is one of my priorities, which is why I urge the agencies, municipalities, and organizations to send me their recommendations to support federal programs that are a priority for the island, during the preparation of the budget for the next fiscal year. ", expressed the congresswoman.

The form for submitting priority program recommendations, as well as additional details and sample programmatic and language requests, are available at the following link:
https://gonzalez-colon.house.gov/services/appropriations-requests.

The commissioner continues to monitor the disbursement of funds for the reconstruction of the island, for this, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) discovered new funds for permanent works in:

Municipality of Bayamón $4,890,756.41; Meliton Pereles pedestrian bridge on 156th street in the Municipality of Barranquitas $1,080,289; Bayamón Campus of the University of Puerto Rico $74,652,123.87; improvements to recreational facilities in the Municipality of Humacao with two parts, one for $3,893,922.27 and the other for $2,240,257; improvements to recreational facilities in the Municipality of Fajardo $1,424,494.91; repairs to roads in the Salto Arriba sector Chorrera sector of Utuado $1,054,758.74; repairs to the track of the recreational facilities of the Liga Atlética Pepiniana of the Municipality of San Sebastián $1,154,053.21; and for improvements to recreational facilities in the Municipality of Maricao $1,542,940.97.

$6,354,701.25 is being allocated to increase the personnel, resources and skills of the Puerto Rico Planning Board (PRB) and the Permit Management Office (OGPe) in order to effectively enforce the requirements of the permitting process and to address the violations of that process, including the issues of informality and illegality.

Funds for this project are awarded in phases, as the subrecipient demonstrates that it has spent the amount already awarded.

FEMA obligates the financing of these projects directly to the Government of Puerto Rico, who are responsible for ensuring that eligible subrecipients receive these funds; and after receiving proper documentation, hold funds to subrecipients on a reimbursable basis.

On the other hand, the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS, for its acronym in English) of the Department of the Interior, announced the largest forecast at the national level for the Program for the Restoration of Wildlife and Sport Fishing (WSFR for its acronym in English). its acronym in English): $1.5 billion.

The WSFR Program, also known as Pittman-Robertson Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux, seeks to support state and local outdoor recreational opportunities, wildlife, habitat, and conservation efforts. It contains two funding sources: the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which was reauthorized as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, supported by the commissioner, and the Wildlife Restoration Program. for which $3,996,614 and $4,798,561 were allocated to Puerto Rico, from each of the programs, respectively. At the local level, these funds are administered by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.

As a member of the Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over these funds, the commissioner has always supported the continuation and securing of funding for the program.

In the area of ​​child health and development, the Office of Head Start of the Administration for Families and Children, attached to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), assigned the Seasonal Head Start and Early Head Start Program of the Diocese of Mayagüez $1,735,269 under the Head Start and Early Head Start program.

While the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), also under HHS, allocated funds to four 330 centers: $4,761,641 to the HPM Foundation, Inc in San Juan, $3,414,458 to the Center for Primary Health Services in Patillas Inc; $2,343,437 to the Lares Health Center; and $2,297,207 to Costa Salud Community Health Centers Inc. of Rincón.

Source