By El Vocero - A Puerto Rican delegation - which includes members of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce (PRCC) and the College of Public Accountants - is in Washington, D.C. seeking the approval of several congressional initiatives that will help reactivate the island's economy in the areas of health, food, taxes and manufacturing.
The effort is also being made by officials and sectors in several states, which increases competition for access to aid.
This was revealed to EL VOCERO by Kenneth Rivera, member of the Puerto Rico delegation, who acknowledged the great challenge facing the island. "There are many states and groups that are competing for the attention of legislators to be heard and to advance their mandates. Something can be achieved, but the environment is very competitive," he said.
According to Rivera, two of the four main petitions before Congress are well underway with bills already filed. One of them is on the health issue, where efforts are being concentrated to request an additional allocation of $1 billion for the island and maintain the federal medical assistance level (FMAP) at 76%, since Puerto Rico does not receive parity in Medicaid and Medicare funds, compared to the states.
Another of the efforts is in the area of taxation and manufacturing. This week, proposed tax changes in the manufacturing sector that would impact the island will be discussed, and local groups are seeking exemptions or preferential treatment.
"We are at a historic juncture in the federal tax area and its relationship with companies operating in Puerto Rico. It is imperative to be present in the federal capital at this moment defending these companies," said the former president of the PRCC.
Regarding the issue of the Nutritional Assistance Program (PAN), Rivera reported that they have been working hard on it, but it is not one of the most advanced. The request is that the island can transition from the PAN -whose contribution is per block- to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), whose payment is per person and is not currently applicable to Puerto Rico. The change would represent an increase in the monthly allowance for participants and in the number of beneficiaries.
Of the programs that the island is defending before Congress, the most delayed is the request for an exception to the Federal Wire Act for Puerto Rico. This is the federal law that prohibits the operation of certain types of betting businesses in the United States and, if approved in favor of the island, would allow local sports betting in international markets.
"If we manage to be exempted from this law, we can attract new hotel or casino investment to areas such as Roosevelt Roads. It would be a hook to attract investment and turn the island into a center of tourist attraction by opening up to international markets," Rivera said.
In the face of stiff competition in Congress, Rivera acknowledged that the island has made some progress and said more legislators know about Puerto Rico. However, he understands the need to get allies, with greater economic resources and contacts to lobby, which would allow the island to take greater steps. In that effort, the local PRCC has already knocked on the doors of the American Chamber of Commerce and other related entities.
"If we can get them to support us, we are talking about greater resources and entities with greater recognition in Congress, which represents a very valuable support for the island," he said.