By El Nuevo Día - Although the resumption of work in the U.S. Congress will involve the discussion of a number of legislative measures that were left on the back burner, the resident commissioner in Washington, D.C., said today that her focus is on achieving parity in Medicaid funds and the approval of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Puerto Rican residents, Jenniffer GonzálezThe resident commissioner in Washington said today that her focus is on achieving parity in Medicaid funding and the approval of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Puerto Ricans residing on the island.
"For me it is important that we have clear priorities...," Gonzalez stressed.
This coming September 30, part of the Medicaid funds that finance Puerto Rico's government health plan, which benefits 1.4 million people, will expire. "For me, at this moment, at the Congressional level, my priority is for Puerto Rico to receive Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income funds. We have made both requests to the Democratic leadership, but unfortunately they have not included them," Gonzalez acknowledged.
"In the case of Supplemental Social Security, we would be talking about $2.5 billion a year that Puerto Rico could be receiving directly through families 65 years of age or older. This is to lift people out of poverty," he said.
The SSI extension could represent a monthly payment of between $450 and $1,400 for those over age 65 and living below poverty levels.
González did not rule out that the parity claim be included in the budget reconciliation bill that the legislative majority in Congress will try to approve in the next few weeks. Another option, he explained, is for it to come down in a bill to be attached to the Continuing Budget Resolution, which is known as a CR.
He said the reconciliation project includes a proposal to grant a tax credit to foreign companies with a presence on the island and compensation to Viequenses, as part of the military maneuvers that took place in the island municipality.
Regarding the former, González said he is concerned about the proposal, since the granting of the benefit is not tied to the creation of new jobs. " I don't believe in giving a tax credit that goes into a pocket to a foreign corporation, which is not producing new jobs in Puerto Rico, versus when I have people, 1.5 million residents in Puerto Rico, who are not treated equally," he said in a clear reference to the government's health plan.
"Yes, I will push for economic development, of course I will...but I believe that we have to add employment requirements," he argued, adding that if these compliance requirements are not established, they would be tied to granting companies a "blank check" and not, necessarily, to local production.