Democratic majorities put Puerto Rico’s federal agenda in focus — a NAPREC perspective
News is my Business analyzed how Democratic control of both chambers from January could shape funding and tax decisions affecting Puerto Rico’s hospitals, electricity system, manufacturers and investors. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Democrats win the House majority: what it means for Puerto Rico — a NAPREC perspective
CBS News projected that Democrats won control of the House of Representatives in the November 3 midterms. Democrats held 214 seats going in; by November 5, CBS estimated they were on pace for about 256. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Resident Commissioner comments on 2030 Census rules for Puerto Rico — a NAPREC perspective
Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández submitted comments to the U.S. Census Bureau on how proposed 2030 Census rules could affect the count of Puerto Rico’s population and of Puerto Rican communities in the states. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Puerto Rico’s petition puts statehood before Congress and the White House — a NAPREC perspective
Spectrum News reported that the joint resolution signed by Governor Jenniffer González-Colón asks Congress and President Donald Trump to make Puerto Rico the 51st state. The Puerto Rico Statehood Council called it the first such petition from the island’s legislature. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Resident Commissioner weighs reviving a plebiscite bill — a NAPREC perspective
Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández told El Nuevo Día he will evaluate reintroducing, in the next Congress, his bill for a federally binding plebiscite that includes the current territorial status, while saying he does not expect status legislation to advance. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Resident Commissioner to back an energy shipping exemption — a NAPREC perspective
Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández said he intends to cosponsor Rep. Ritchie Torres’s bill to exempt energy products shipped to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska and Guam from the Jones Act. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Resident Commissioner seeks answers on the temporary generation contract — a NAPREC perspective
Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández asked Energy Czar Josué Colón Ortiz and Osvaldo Carlo Linares, president of the Third Party Procurement Office, to explain how allegations about the temporary generation procurement were reviewed, with answers due by October 15. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Bill seeks more time to finish Puerto Rico’s recovery — a NAPREC perspective
Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández and Representatives Bennie Thompson and Nellie Pou announced H.R. 10441, which would extend the deadline for eligible FEMA recovery projects in Puerto Rico to December 31, 2035, with annual progress reports. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
House water bill includes 11 Puerto Rico measures — a NAPREC perspective
The House approved the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, H.R. 9497, with 11 measures sought by Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández, including raising the federal authorization for Puerto Rico drinking water and sewer projects from $35 million to $75 million. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Medicaid fix for Puerto Rico still not found — a NAPREC perspective
House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie said Republicans have not yet found a way to reauthorize Puerto Rico’s Medicaid funding. Without action, annual federal funding would fall from about $4.2 billion to about $500 million on October 1, 2027. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Stopgap funding keeps Puerto Rico programs running — a NAPREC perspective
Congress approved H.R. 6500, a continuing resolution funding the federal government through December 11, 2026. The Resident Commissioner said it keeps PAN, WIC, Head Start, housing and disaster funds running for Puerto Rico. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
House members announce a recovery oversight visit — a NAPREC perspective
House Homeland Security Democrats announced a June 12–13 visit to San Juan and Naranjito to assess recovery. The advisory described planned meetings about hurricane and earthquake reconstruction, education, and energy. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Senators introduce a renewed path from NAP to SNAP — a NAPREC perspective
Senators introduced the Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act to permit full participation in SNAP. The proposal sought to replace the nutrition block-grant structure; introduction alone did not change benefit eligibility. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
House nutrition-equity bill returns in the 119th Congress — a NAPREC perspective
H.R. 5168 was introduced to transition Puerto Rico from its nutrition assistance block grant to SNAP. The proposal was referred to the House Agriculture Committee; it did not itself enroll Puerto Rico in SNAP. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Congressional letter seeks transparency about tax-incentive audits — a NAPREC perspective
Lawmakers asked the IRS to respond promptly to requests for information about audits involving Puerto Rico tax-incentive beneficiaries. The letter raised compliance concerns; those concerns were lawmakers’ allegations rather than findings against every beneficiary. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Senators introduce a companion status proposal — a NAPREC perspective
Senators Martin Heinrich, Catherine Cortez Masto and Alex Padilla introduced the Puerto Rico Status Act. It proposed a federally sponsored vote among statehood, independence and sovereignty in free association. Introduction began consideration without changing Puerto Rico’s status. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Lawmakers seek housing-data parity for Puerto Rico — a NAPREC perspective
Representative Nydia Velázquez led a congressional letter urging HUD to include Puerto Rico in the American Housing Survey. The lawmakers argued that incomplete housing data hindered responses to affordability and displacement concerns. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Status legislation returns in a new Congress — a NAPREC perspective
H.R. 2757 reintroduced the Puerto Rico Status Act in the 118th Congress. A new bill was necessary to continue the legislative effort after the previous Congress, underscoring the difference between momentum in one chamber and a completed federal law. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Senate introduces the 2023 nutrition-assistance fairness bill — a NAPREC perspective
S. 949 proposed moving Puerto Rico into SNAP and was referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee. It formed a Senate counterpart to efforts to change the island’s nutrition assistance structure. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Bipartisan bill proposes a Caribbean counternarcotics strategy — a NAPREC perspective
Senators and territorial representatives introduced a bill seeking a formal Caribbean counternarcotics strategy. The proposal focused on trafficking affecting Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Florida. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.