Feed InformerRes. Comm. Pedro Pierluisi - News ReviewRes. Comm. Pedro Pierluisi - News ReviewRespective post owners and feed distributors2013-11-08T09:39:38-04:00Feed Informer http://feed.informer.com/http://app.feed.informer.com/widgets/ZEJVSFLXSEPierluisi Announces Release of Report by Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico<p><strong>San Juan, Puerto Rico</strong>—Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced today that the Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico has released its final <a href="http://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Bipartisan%20Congressional%20Task%20Force%20on%20Economic%20Growth%20in%20Puerto%20Rico%20Releases%20Final%20Report.pdf">report</a>. The Task Force was established by Section 409 of the <em>Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act</em>, known as PROMESA, which became law on June 30, 2016. </p>
<p>The Task Force was composed of eight U.S. senators and representatives. It was chaired by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who is also the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. The other members were Rep. Pierluisi (D-Puerto Rico), Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-New York), Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wisconsin), Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-New Jersey), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Florida), and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey).</p>
<p>The Task Force was directed to produce a report that identifies impediments in current federal laws and programs to economic growth in Puerto Rico, including equitable access to federal health care programs, and to recommend changes to federal laws and programs that could spur economic growth and job creation, reduce child poverty, and attract investment on the island.</p>
<p>The report released today is approximately 125 pages, including three appendices, and makes about 75 discrete recommendations to Congress, federal agencies, and the government of Puerto Rico on a wide range of issues. To draft the report, the Task Force organized about 15 briefings with federal agencies and departments, reviewed about 450 written submissions made by individuals and organizations to an email portal that the Task Force established, and consulted with congressional support organizations like the Congressional Research Service, Congressional Budget Office, Joint Committee on Taxation, and U.S. Government Accountability Office.</p>
<p>“I want to thank my fellow Task Force members for working together in a spirit of bipartisanship to produce this report, which I genuinely believe is the most comprehensive and constructive document that the federal government has ever prepared on Puerto Rico. I am particularly proud of Appendix 2 of the report, which describes 40 federal programs in which the 3.4 million U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico are treated differently than their fellow citizens in the states because Puerto Rico is a territory and not a state. This report will serve as a blueprint for action for the next Resident Commissioner and the next Congress as a whole. I think it is a fitting capstone to my congressional career,” said Pierluisi, who will leave office this year. </p>
<p>The Resident Commissioner highlighted some of the Task Force’s key recommendations:</p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends that Congress enact fiscally-responsible legislation in early 2017 to address the impending Medicaid “cliff” so that the Puerto Rico Medicaid agency—ASES—can engage with more certainty when formulating capitation payment contracts with its managed care organizations. The Task Force further recommends that, going forward, federal financing of the Medicaid program in Puerto Rico and the other territories should be more closely tied to the size and needs of the territory’s low-income population.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends various steps to improve Puerto Rico’s treatment under Medicare Part A (hospital services), Part B (physician services), Part C (Medicare Advantage), and Part D (prescription drug coverage). </li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>On Part A, the Task Force recommends that Congress consider providing increased flexibility to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that island hospitals are being fairly compensated under a federal program that provides extra payments to hospitals that treat a large percentage of low-income and other vulnerable patients. With the exception of this program, Puerto Rico hospitals are now treated essentially the same as hospitals in the states under Medicare as a result of legislative and administrative steps that Pierluisi secured in the last two years.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>On Part B, the Task Force recommends that Congress amend federal law so that Medicare beneficiaries in Puerto Rico are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B with the option to opt out of coverage, the same way their counterparts in every state and other territory are treated. Thousands of island seniors are paying lifetime late penalties as a result of Puerto Rico’s disparate treatment in current law. </li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>On Part C, the Task Force notes that 75 percent of Medicare beneficiaries in Puerto Rico are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, the highest penetration rate in the nation. The Task Force recommends that Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) consider whether additional legislative or administrative steps may be warranted to ensure that MA plans in Puerto Rico and the rest of the nation are being fairly and properly compensated for the services they provide to beneficiaries.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>On Part D, Medicare beneficiaries in the states with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible to receive a low-income subsidy (LIS) from the federal government, which eliminates or reduces their monthly premium and other costs related to prescription drug coverage. However, low-income seniors in Puerto Rico and the territories are not eligible for the LIS. Instead, each territory receives a relatively small annual block grant, under the so-called enhanced allotment program (EAP), which it can use to help low-income seniors afford prescription drugs. To add insult to injury, a territory must pay 45 cents in order to draw down 55 cents of EAP funding. Because of Puerto Rico’s difficult fiscal condition, it has recently been unable to access about half of its $50 million in annual EAP funding. The Task Force recommends that Congress eliminate the matching requirement for each territory and that Congress consider increasing the annual EAP allotment by a reasonable amount and in a fiscally responsible manner, so that the allotment is more closely tethered to actual need in each territory. In addition, the Task Force recommends that Congress explore the feasibility and cost of extending LIS to residents of the territories and eliminating the EAP program.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>More generally, the Task Force recommends that Congress consider giving CMS the authority to make adjustments to any formula providing for payments to physicians, hospitals or health plans in Puerto Rico and the other territories, where the formula is dependent in whole or in part on data that are unavailable or unreliable for the territories, or dependent on factors that are inapplicable to the territories.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends that Congress authorize families in Puerto Rico with one or two children to claim the additional child tax credit, just as island families with three or more children are currently able to claim the credit. It has been estimated that this proposal could inject $2.9 billion into Puerto Rico’s economy over the next decade, benefitting about 355,000 families and 404,000 children, with an average annual household payment of $770. This would help reduce child poverty and generate economic activity.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends that Congress make the full amount of the rum cover-over payment to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands permanent, rather than permanent in part and subject to periodic extension by Congress in part. The Task Force further recommends that Congress increase the cover-over payment from the current rate of $13.25 per proof gallon to the generally applicable distilled spirits rate, currently $13.50 per proof gallon. </li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends that Congress amend the Internal Revenue Code Section 199 domestic production activities deduction so that it applies to Puerto Rico on a permanent basis. This deduction reduces federal taxes for U.S. companies that operate in Puerto Rico in branch form. </li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends that Congress amend Internal Revenue Code Section 181 so that film and television producers can receive the same tax benefit for filming in Puerto Rico that they receive for filming in the 50 states.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force is open to the prospect of Congress providing U.S. companies that invest in Puerto Rico with more competitive tax treatment as long as appropriate guardrails are designed to ensure the company is creating real economic activity and employment on the island.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends that Congress examine Puerto Rico’s treatment under the Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled (AABD) program, which applies in the territory in lieu of the far better Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. A recent <a href="http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-puertorico-disability/">article</a> in <em>Reuters</em>, entitled “Deserted Island: The Disabled in Puerto Rico Fend for Themselves After Decades of U.S. Neglect,” showed how terribly the most vulnerable residents of Puerto Rico are treated under AABD. The Task Force recommends that Congress examine the costs and benefits of either including Puerto in the SSI program with full benefits; including Puerto Rico in the SSI program with reduced benefits; increasing the annual AABD grant provided to Puerto Rico; indexing the AABD cap to inflation; or maintaining current law.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends that Congress take a number of actions to improve Puerto Rico’s treatment under programs administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Among the recommendations are to:</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>temporarily increase the percentage of a small business loan that SBA guarantees in Puerto Rico,</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>temporarily eliminate or reduce fees that firms in Puerto Rico must pay to receive an SBA-approved loan,</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>consider providing Puerto Rico firms with a contracting preference to address the fact that about 60 percent of (the relatively few) federal contracts performed in Puerto Rico are awarded to firms located outside of Puerto Rico, and</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>authorize SBA to make loans available to help small firms in a state or territory recover from any substantial economic injuries they have experienced as a result of health-related travel advisories, such as those issued by the CDC in connection with Zika.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends that the 13 principal federal statistical agencies—including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Agricultural Statistical Service, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration—take all reasonable steps to include Puerto Rico in their statistical programs. The Task Force recommends that the U.S. Chief Statistician, within the Office of Management and Budget, prioritize Puerto Rico’s inclusion in federal statistical programs.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends various steps to make electric power more reliable and affordable in Puerto Rico. Noting that federal law requires the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) to appoint a team of technical, policy and financial experts to develop an energy action plan for Puerto Rico, the Task Force recommends that the team be appointed as soon as practicable, that the team prepare and publish the energy action plan in a timely manner, and that USDOE annually update Congress on the efforts that Puerto Rico has made to implement the plan.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends that the government of Puerto Rico, in conjunction with the Revitalization Coordinator established in PROMESA, elected leaders of the surrounding communities, federal government partners, and the private sector, prioritize the redevelopment of the former Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, which the Task Force believes has the potential to transform eastern Puerto Rico.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>Because the Task Force believes that the project to restore Caño Martín Peña can provide a significant return on investment for the federal government in terms of improving the economy, protecting public health, and restoring the natural environment in some of Puerto Rico’s most distressed communities, the Task Force recommends that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the non-federal sponsor (ENLACE) finalize the Project Partnership Agreement as soon as feasible, that Congress consider appropriating funding to construct this project, and that Congress consider relaxing the cost-sharing obligations of ENLACE or otherwise taking steps to ensure that Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis does not result in progress on the project being halted.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>Because the Task Force recognizes that the Arecibo Observatory is vital to Puerto Rico and believes that science-focused and education-focused operations should be continued at the site, the Task Force recommends that the National Science Foundation, in collaboration with other government and non-government stakeholders, take all feasible steps to achieve this result. </li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>Because the Task Force is concerned with the state of Puerto Rico’s municipal solid waste landfills, and their potential impact on public health and the environment, the Task Force recommends that Congress examine this issue to determine whether there are additional steps that should be taken.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends that the U.S. Department of Commerce—including the International Trade Administration, the Economic Development Administration, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis—take various steps to help Puerto Rico attract more foreign direct investment, increase exports from Puerto Rico firms to foreign nations, increase travel and tourism in Puerto Rico by foreign nationals, and compute Gross Domestic Product and other macroeconomic statistics for the island. The Task Force also recommends that the Department of Commerce conduct a cost-benefit analysis of its current regulations that require Electronic Export Information (EEI) filings for air and maritime shipments between the states and Puerto Rico, even though this trade is interstate commerce, not international commerce.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends various steps designed to enable Puerto Rico-based entities to better compete for competitive funding under programs administered by the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, including the New Markets Tax Credit program.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends that Congress continue to authorize the U.S. Treasury Department to provide technical assistance to the government of Puerto Rico to help it improve its financial management and tax collection systems. </li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>The Task Force recommends multiple steps by Congress and federal law enforcement agencies to reduce drug trafficking and associated violence in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.</li>
</ul><p> </p>
<ul><li>If the government of Puerto Rico conducts the plebiscite authorized and funded by Public Law 113-76, the Task Force recommends that Congress analyze the result of this plebiscite with care and seriousness of purpose, and take any appropriate legislative action. </li>
</ul>2016-12-20T05:00:00Zurn:uuid:9e6c3ef1-fc8f-b183-f3bf-c5b9376abf7743Final Report of Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico <p>View the Final Report here: <a href="http://pierluisi.house.gov/sites/pierluisi.house.gov/files/Final%20Report%2C%20Congressional%20Task%20Force%20on%20Economic%20Growth%20in%20Puerto%20Rico%20%28December%2020%2C%202016%29.pdf">Final Report of Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico</a> </p>2016-12-20T05:00:00Zurn:uuid:c9269582-34f4-49f6-8290-b5838f6fb72e43After Years of Efforts by Pierluisi, Federal Government Takes Administrative Action to Increase Reimbursement Rates for Puerto Rico Physicians Under Medicare<p><strong>San Juan, Puerto Rico</strong>—Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced today that, after years of efforts by him and others, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized a rule that will meaningfully increase reimbursement rates for the nearly 10,000 physicians in Puerto Rico under the Medicare program, starting on January 1, 2017. </p>
<p>The Resident Commissioner has long expressed concern that reimbursement rates for Puerto Rico physicians under Medicare do not accurately reflect the actual cost of practicing medicine on the island. Many doctors have been leaving Puerto Rico in recent years and, based on physician surveys, inadequate reimbursement rates are often a factor in that decision. </p>
<p>CMS reimburses doctors pursuant to a formula that consists of three components. First, the “Physician Work” component reflects the relative time and effort associated with providing a particular Medicare service. Second, the “Practice Expense” component reflects the cost of maintaining a medical practice, such as renting office space, buying supplies and equipment, and paying staff. Finally, the “Malpractice” component reflects the cost to a doctor of purchasing malpractice insurance. </p>
<p>CMS then applies a geographic pricing cost index, commonly called a GPCI, to each of the three components, which is intended to account for geographic variations in the cost of practicing medicine in different areas within the country. Using U.S. Census Bureau data, CMS has calculated for Puerto Rico the lowest Physician Work GPCI, Practice Expense GPCI, and Malpractice GPCI of any jurisdiction in the United States. As a practical matter, this means that Puerto Rico physicians are reimbursed less under Medicare than doctors in any other U.S. state or territory, including the neighboring U.S. Virgin Islands. The Resident Commissioner has made detailed arguments for why the GPCI formula does not reflect the true cost of practicing medicine in Puerto Rico.</p>
<p>“After years of advocacy efforts undertaken by me, the Puerto Rico College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Medicaid and Medicare Advantage Products Association of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, and other stakeholders, I am thrilled that CMS will now increase all three GPCIs for Puerto Rico physicians. Although it is not possible to precisely estimate the dollar value of this proposal, the positive impact is likely to be extraordinarily significant, because island doctors will receive higher federal payments for every single medical service they provide to Medicare patients,” said Pierluisi.</p>
<p>On August 15th, after the proposed rule was issued by CMS, the Resident Commissioner wrote a letter to Sylvia Burwell, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Andrew Slavitt, the Acting Administrator of CMS, expressing his support for the proposed rule:</p>
<p>“I want to express my gratitude to HHS and CMS for proposing to increase the three geographic pricing cost indices, commonly called GPCIs, so that physicians in Puerto Rico who treat patients enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare are reimbursed in a manner that more closely aligns with the manner in which physicians in the other U.S. territories are reimbursed and that better reflects the actual cost of practicing medicine in Puerto Rico,” Pierluisi’s letter stated. </p>
<p>“Puerto Rico is unique insofar as approximately 75 percent of all Medicare-eligible individuals in Puerto Rico receive health insurance through a Medicare Advantage plan, rather than through fee-for-service Medicare—a penetration rate that far exceeds that of any state or sister territory. If the final rule retains the GPCI increase for Puerto Rico, this increase will <em>eventually</em> be reflected in the per-person monthly payment the federal government makes to MA plans on the island. The problem is that there is a time lag involved. If you conclude that there is absolutely no path to fully incorporate the change into the MA rate in 2017, which I hope is not the case, then I seek your written assurance that the change will be fully implemented in 2018,” the Resident Commissioner’s letter concluded. </p>
<p>The final rule is available here: </p>
<p><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-26668.pdf">https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-26668.pdf</a></p>2016-11-03T17:02:54Zurn:uuid:2a91dbf0-e9df-9baa-dc29-bc402942cd6843Pierluisi Announces $34 Million in Federal Funds for Six Puerto Rico Universities<p><strong>Washington, DC</strong>—Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced today that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded a total of $34 million in federal funding, to be provided annually over the next five years, to assist students at six universities in Puerto Rico. The funding is being provided pursuant to the Hispanic Serving Institutions Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (HSI STEM) program, which aims to increase the number of Hispanic and low-income students who attain a four-year or two-year degree in STEM fields. </p>
<p>Specifically, the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Bayamón; Universidad del Este; Universidad Central de Bayamón; and Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico-San Juan will each receive approximately $1.2 million annually, or $6 million over five years; Humacao Community College will receive approximately $1.1 million annually, or $5.5 million over five years; and Dewey University-Carolina will receive nearly $1 million annually, or about $5 million over five years.</p>
<p>“Improving access to STEM programs for university students in Puerto Rico is of paramount importance. It is critical that our nation’s most valuable asset, namely our talented young men and women, continue to earn degrees in these competitive fields, which are more relevant than ever before. This significant federal funding will help our students to compete successfully in the global job market,” said Pierluisi. </p>
<p> </p>2016-09-27T18:04:50Zurn:uuid:f13bd4cb-1712-4fea-6cee-8a16a33f8cba43Pierluisi Announces that Bill to Fund Federal Government Includes At Least $126 Million for Puerto Rico and Other U.S. Territories<p><strong>Washington, DC</strong>—Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced today that a bill to fund the federal government until December 9th—known as a Continuing Resolution—includes $1.1 billion in funding to help prevent and respond to the Zika virus, including at least $126 million that will be directly targeted at Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories with active transmission of Zika. Puerto Rico will also benefit greatly from the $394 million that the bill provides to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the $152 million that it provides to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).</p>
<p>Zika is transmitted by the bites of female <em>Aedes aegypti</em> mosquitoes, which also transmit chikungunya and dengue. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects and is associated with other pregnancy problems. Puerto Rico is the U.S. jurisdiction most affected by the Zika virus. According to information released by the Puerto Rico Department of Health on September 15th, there are 19,967 confirmed cases of Zika in Puerto Rico, including 1,706 cases in pregnant women; 150 hospitalizations due to Zika; and 48 cases of Guillain–Barré syndrome, an uncommon sickness of the nervous system that may be linked to Zika. </p>
<p>There are also locally-transmitted cases of Zika in the U.S. Virgin Islands (265), Florida (92), and American Samoa (46). </p>
<p>The bill released today would provide $1.1 billion in emergency funding to combat Zika and other mosquito-borne viruses, including $387 million that would be provided to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. Of the $387 million:</p>
<ul><li>$75 million is for states and territories with active local transmission of Zika, including at least $60 million for Puerto Rico and other territories with the highest rates of local Zika transmission.</li>
<li>$40 million is to expand health care services at Federally Qualified Health Centers, often called 330 centers, in Puerto Rico and the other territories.</li>
<li>$20 million is for Zika projects in Puerto Rico and the other territories of national or regional significance. </li>
<li>$6 million is to enable the National Health Service Corps to assign additional physicians and other health professionals to Puerto Rico.</li>
</ul><p>“In sum, Puerto Rico and the other territories will receive at least $126 million in targeted funding to address Zika. Puerto Rico will also benefit from the $394 million that is being provided to the CDC. Recently, the CDC awarded an $8 million grant to the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust to fund a Vector Control Unit. ‘Vector Control’ refers to the effort to reduce the population of <em>Aedes aegypti</em> mosquitoes through a variety of methods,” said Pierluisi.</p>
<p>“Congressional action on Zika is long overdue. It is critical that a Zika bill be enacted into law as soon as possible, so that additional funding and other assistance can be provided to Puerto Rico and other U.S. jurisdictions already experiencing or threatened by Zika,” the Resident Commissioner added.</p>
<p>Pierluisi has held many meetings on Zika, including with the Secretary of HHS, Sylvia Burwell, and the Director of the CDC, Dr. Tom Frieden. </p>
<p> </p>2016-09-22T04:00:00Zurn:uuid:d85179f5-c98d-e399-4032-50c58b7afd1b43Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico Releases Status Update<p>WASHINGTON — The bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico today released a status update regarding its work in crafting policy recommendations to promote economic growth and long-term prosperity in the U.S. territory. The interim update, issued to comply with Section 409 of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), details information the Task Force has collected to date and outlines other matters the Task Force is considering.</p>
<p>“Residents of Puerto Rico and their families face numerous challenges to economic growth along many dimensions affected by Federal law and programs, including health care, government finances, economic stagnation, population loss, and sectoral inefficiencies,”<strong><u> the Task Force members wrote in the update.</u></strong> “[We] are actively working to arrive at a consensus in order to provide Congress with findings and recommendations as called for under PROMESA.”</p>
<p>Specifically, the report outlines the following information collected and steps undertaken by the Task Force:</p>
<ul><li>Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.</li>
<li>Submissions to the Task Force email portal.</li>
<li>Outreach to Federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Small Business Administration.</li>
<li>Congressional support from the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and the Library of Congress’s Congressional Research Service (CRS). </li>
<li>Outreach to government and non-government entities in Puerto Rico, including the Legislative Assembly, the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce, and the private sector.</li>
</ul><p>The complete interim update can be found <a href="http://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Congressional%20Task%20Force%20on%20Economic%20Growth%20in%20Puerto%20Rico%20Satus%20Update%20to%20House%20and%20Senate%20Final.pdf">here</a>. A Spanish translation of the interim update can be found <a href="http://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Congressional%20Task%20Force%20on%20Economic%20Growth%20in%20Puerto%20Rico%20Status%20Update%20-%20Spanish.pdf">here</a>.</p>
<p><strong><u>Background: </u></strong></p>
<p>Established by Section 409 of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), Public Law 114-187, the Task Force is chaired by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and is comprised of U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.); Bill Nelson (D-Fla.); and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) as well as U.S. Representatives Sean Duffy (R-Wis.); Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.); Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.); and Pedro Pierluisi (D-Puerto Rico).</p>
<p>Under the law, the Task Force is charged with writing a report by December 31, 2016, that identifies impediments to growth and recommends changes to: promote long-term economic growth and stability; spur new job creation; reduce child poverty; and attract investment in the territory.</p>2016-09-15T04:00:00Zurn:uuid:046af3e6-f8f0-42ba-005b-d1bc64e81a0143Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico Welcomes Input on Territory’s Economic Outlook, Extends Deadline for Submissions<p><strong>WASHINGTON</strong> — Today, members of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico welcomed responses to their <strong><a href="http://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/bipartisan-congressional-task-force-on-economic-growth-in-puerto-rico_seeks-input-on-how-to-strengthen-territorys-economy-">call</a></strong> for stakeholder input on ideas to identify reforms needed to grow the territory’s economy and announced an extension of the deadline for submissions to October 14, 2016. The Task Force, which is charged with making recommendations that will promote economic growth in Puerto Rico, has received over 300 submissions from interested stakeholders to date. In response, the Task Force members issued the following statement:</p>
<p>“We greatly appreciate the time so many took to write us with their thoughtful ideas on how to improve the Puerto Rican economy for its residents. In order to cast the widest net possible and to work with stakeholders on providing input in a usable form, we are extending the deadline. At the same time, we urge stakeholders to submit their recommendations as soon as possible,” <strong><u>the Task Force members said in a joint statement.</u></strong> “We look forward to reviewing the responses as we work to produce our final report to Congress later this year.”</p>
<p><strong><u>Background: </u></strong></p>
<p>Established by Section 409 of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), Public Law 114-187, the Task Force is chaired by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and is comprised of U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.); Bill Nelson (D-Fla.); and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) as well as U.S. Representatives Sean Duffy (R-Wis.); Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.); Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.); and Pedro Pierluisi (D-Puerto Rico).</p>
<p>Under the law, the Task Force is charged with writing a report by December 31, 2016, that identifies impediments to growth and recommends changes to: promote long-term economic growth and stability; spur new job creation; reduce child poverty; and attract investment in the territory. A status update identifying information the Task Force has collected and matters considered to be urgent will be provided to Congress in September.</p>2016-09-06T04:00:00Zurn:uuid:7adafed9-4491-1507-de76-7ca9bed7206143Pierluisi Statement on Appointment of Members of Puerto Rico Oversight Board<p><strong>San Juan, Puerto Rico</strong>—Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi issued the following statement regarding the appointment of the seven members of the Puerto Rico Financial Oversight and Management Board, established pursuant to the <em>Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act</em>, or PROMESA, which was enacted into law on June 30, 2016:</p>
<p>“I am pleased that President Obama, in consultation with Congress, has appointed the members of the Oversight Board in a thoughtful and timely manner, and I thank the seven appointees for their willingness to serve. The next step is for the Oversight Board to appoint an executive director and professional staff, consistent with Section 103 of PROMESA.</p>
<p>“PROMESA is among the most important pieces of legislation that Congress has ever enacted on the subject of Puerto Rico. If the Oversight Board, its professional staff, Puerto Rico’s elected leaders, the island’s creditors, and our private sector professionals work together in a spirit of cooperation, I believe that—acting within PROMESA’s framework—we can begin to turn our beloved island around, to improve quality of life for our people, and to stem the tide of migration to the states. Success will require hard work and sacrifice. But nothing truly worth doing in life is ever easy.”</p>2016-08-31T17:11:24Zurn:uuid:662590f0-a6f0-b509-bf23-a7a698869ae643Pierluisi Announces Success in Effort to Keep Puerto Rico National Guard English-Language Center Open<p><strong>San Juan, Puerto Rico—</strong>Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced today that the effort he has led since 2014 to prevent the closure of the English Language Center operated by the Puerto Rico National Guard at Ft. Allen in Juana Díaz appears to be on a successful path. The Language Center was scheduled to be closed starting in Fiscal Year 2016, but Pierluisi’s efforts resulted in the Language Center remaining open. Now, the Resident Commissioner is pleased to announce that the Language Center will maintain operations in Fiscal Year 2017. In addition, Pierluisi will continue to work with the Department of Defense to establish a Memorandum of Understanding that could potentially make the Language Center a satellite campus of the Defense Language Institute English Language Center, known as DLIELC, which is located at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. This would enable the Language Center to continue operations in Fiscal Year 2018 and beyond.</p>
<p>The English Language Center has been in operation in Puerto Rico, in one form or another, since 1976. In those 40 years, it has proven to be a vital recruitment, retention and training resource for the Puerto Rico National Guard, whose soldiers and airmen are often deployed into combat zones like Afghanistan and Iraq, including more than 17,000 times since 2003.</p>
<p>The Language Center provides new recruits with the opportunity to participate in a rigorous English-language instruction program taught by experienced civilian English teachers from Puerto Rico. While enrolled in the program, the recruits live at Ft. Allen for up to six months. Among all state and territory national guards, the Puerto Rico National Guard is unique in that nearly all of its enlisted recruits are raised in Spanish-speaking households and are recent graduates of public high schools where classroom instruction is conducted almost exclusively in Spanish. Accordingly, the English-language immersion program provided at the Language Center is both challenging and essential. Between 300 to 500 Puerto Rico Army National Guard recruits enroll in the Language Center each year, which represents about half of the Puerto Rico Army National Guard’s annual recruits. In total, since the Language Center was established, over 15,000 soldiers have graduated from the Center. </p>
<p>“In late 2014, I learned that the National Guard Bureau planned to shut down the English Language Center starting in Fiscal Year 2016 and, instead, intended to send all Puerto Rico National Guard recruits who require English-language instruction to the Defense Language Institute’s English Language Center in Texas. Because I opposed this effort, I sent letters to, and held meetings with, senior leaders of the National Guard Bureau, urging them to reconsider this decision and to keep the English Language Center open. I was joined in this effort by the leaders of the Puerto Rico National Guard and by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who cares deeply about Puerto Rico and our national defense,” said Pierluisi.</p>
<p>“As a result of these efforts, the English Language Center remained open in Fiscal Year 2016 and now it will remain open in Fiscal Year 2017 as well. I will continue working with the Department of the Defense and the National Guard Bureau, alongside allies like Senator Gillibrand, to transition the Language Center into a satellite campus of the Defense Language Institute English Language Center in Texas, which would enable the Language Center to continue operations beyond Fiscal Year 2017. This would be the best outcome for Puerto Rico, for our military, and for our nation. It is critical for the United States military to have a workforce whose members are linguistically and culturally diverse, and thus able to operate effectively in different military environments. The English Language Center promotes that objective,” added the Resident Commissioner.</p>
<p>“The National Guard Bureau decision to answer our call and keep the center open is an important step to prevent the loss of numerous jobs and to continue to allow for Puerto Rican National Guard students to live near their families while they spend 6 months at the English language training center. This will also help Puerto Rico maintain a strong National Guard presence and provide these fellow American citizens with the language training they need when they serve our country abroad,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.</p>
<p> </p>2016-08-31T14:00:20Zurn:uuid:85d3eed3-5e10-6c67-f4aa-de87754129cc43Rep. Pierluisi Letter to Secretary Burwell and Administrator Slavitt Regarding 2017 Medicare Part B Rule<p>View the letter here: <a href="http://pierluisi.house.gov/sites/pierluisi.house.gov/files/8.15.16%20Rep.%20Pierluisi%20Letter%20to%20Secretary%20Burwell%20and%20Administrator%20Slavitt%20Regarding%202017%20Part%20B%20Rule.pdf">Rep. Pierluisi Letter to Secretary Burwell and Administrator Slavitt Regarding 2017 Medicare Part B Rule</a></p>2016-08-15T04:00:00Zurn:uuid:705c2264-76b0-e927-a038-6aeaf29d8d4143<b>Pedro Pierluisi</b> Endorses Darren Soto In 9th <b>Congressional</b> <b>...</b>State Senator Darren Soto (D-Orlando) announced the endorsement of Resident Commissioner <em>Pedro Pierluisi</em> in his bid to be the next <em>Congressman</em> from Florida's 9th district. <em>Pierluisi</em> is Puerto Rico's sole Member of ...2015-12-15T14:46:57Zurn:uuid:264b4e30-f217-76f6-a1f2-076007690546Frank Torres<b>Pierluisi</b>: The Urgent Need for <b>Congressional</b> Action on <b>...</b>Resident Commissioner <em>Pedro R</em>. <em>Pierluisi</em> delivers a speech in the chamber of the U.S. House of <em>Representatives</em> about the urgent need for Congress to act now on legislation to address the fiscal and economic situation in ...2015-12-10T11:58:14Zurn:uuid:98372608-2871-74af-d7aa-86c4869e9413forhad.h174@gmail.comAmerica's Second-Class Citizens: The Lost Puerto Rican VoteIn a 2011 address concerning the island's status, Puerto Rico's current Resident Commissioner, <em>Congressman Pedro R. Pierluisi</em> said, “Puerto Rico's 3.7 million residents lack the most basic right in a democracy: voting ...2015-12-02T03:00:32Zurn:uuid:c40ac441-a99c-e8f1-e2e6-1cb3a158dec8Kayla KaufmanThe Green Papers: What's NewPuerto Rico: Governor: Resident Commissioner <em>Pedro R</em>. <em>Pierluisi</em> Urrutia (Partido Nuevo Progresista) - added; Ricky Rosselló (Partido Nuevo Progresista) - added. Resident Commissioner to the House of <em>Representatives</em>: ...2015-09-29T07:00:00Zurn:uuid:d110146f-bde4-7975-5bbc-97791dcba1c4TheGreenPapers.com Staffhttps://youtube.com/devicesupport<div style="color: #000000;font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12px; font-size: 12px; width: 555px;">
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/videos?c=26">Howto & Style</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>2015-04-17T15:23:22Zurn:uuid:233a4807-04e7-1163-4cd6-b74594f294a6YouTube HelpTreasury Officials Increase Efforts With Finances of Puerto Rico - New York Times<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNGsmJWHhr-58iokFGyTd5O_-2whLw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778803356838&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/business/dealbook/treasury-officials-increase-involvement-with-finances-of-puerto-rico.html"><img src="//t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQOTo8BPYRn15wgrukokVnZtIHGr04EnwqlEfNMNKlRQYKiATDoElRVBesj7wQ25KO_ax8-UaM" alt="" border="1" width="80" height="80"><br><font size="-2">New York Times</font></a></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNGsmJWHhr-58iokFGyTd5O_-2whLw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778803356838&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/business/dealbook/treasury-officials-increase-involvement-with-finances-of-puerto-rico.html"><b>Treasury Officials Increase Efforts With Finances of Puerto Rico</b></a><br><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">New York Times</font></b></font><br><font size="-1">It would show a lack of respect,” said <b>Pedro R</b>. <b>Pierluisi</b>, who is Puerto Rico's <b>representative</b> in Congress. Puerto Rico's relationship with the federal government is a double-edged sword. On one hand, its residents, many of whom pay no federal income <b>...</b></font><br><font size="-1" class="p"></font><br><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dBGyERBPD1etGgM&authuser=0&ned=us"><nobr><b>and more »</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>2015-04-13T23:23:31Zurn:uuid:1075ede3-6c37-18bb-beed-5029ee41a28cWhy Chapter 9 for Puerto Rico is a bad idea - The Hill (blog)<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFghNP6V7Jb3RQp_v0su3WTCpA-Mw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/238104-why-chapter-9-for-puerto-rico-is-a-bad-idea"><b>Why Chapter 9 for Puerto Rico is a bad idea</b></a><br><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">The Hill (blog)</font></b></font><br><font size="-1">The Commonwealth and its <b>representative</b> in Congress, Resident Commissioner <b>Pedro Pierluisi</b>, have been making the case on Capitol Hill that state enterprises like PREPA cannot possibly resolve their financial problems under the applicable indentures and <b>...</b></font><br><font size="-1" class="p"></font><br><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dVR08pM61LR2KkM&authuser=0&ned=us"><nobr><b></b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>2015-04-08T20:01:00Zurn:uuid:5102e904-a1e0-0577-89f6-c758c3249e7bRep. Lee Introduces Moratorium on United States Postal Facilities Act - Targeted News Service (subscription)<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNGIAPPTDrrXg0fYZtFYi3E1aDamvw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://targetednews.com/display_story.php?s_id%3D1196977"><b>Rep. Lee Introduces Moratorium on United States Postal Facilities Act</b></a><br><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">Targeted News Service (subscription)</font></b></font><br><font size="-1">Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, Joe Courtney, D-Conn., Cedric L. Richmond, D-La., Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., Brenda Lawrence, D-Mich., Marcia L. Fudge, D-Ohio, William <b>R</b>. Keating, D-Mass., G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., and Res. Comm. <b>Pedro Pierluisi</b>, D-P.<b>R</b>.</font><br><font size="-1" class="p"></font><br><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=d4Ps8FX5UE3axTM&authuser=0&ned=us"><nobr><b></b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>2015-03-28T11:04:17Zurn:uuid:68054a5e-364e-d009-a530-8ccbc78338d5ARRL President, Directors, Officers Educate and Advocate on Capitol Hill: - eHam.net<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNHiVOj_ZQSa0TSbedBqzANq1aQJ5g&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.eham.net/articles/34282"><b>ARRL President, Directors, Officers Educate and Advocate on Capitol Hill:</b></a><br><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">eHam.net</font></b></font><br><font size="-1">Others new to the fold include Reps Eliot Engel (D-NY), David Joyce (<b>R</b>-OH), Jackie Walorski (<b>R</b>-IN), Kay Granger, (<b>R</b>-TX) and <b>Pedro Pierluisi</b> (NP/D-PR), raising the total number of cosponsors to 28. Benishek is one of two known radio amateurs in Congress <b>...</b></font><br><font size="-1" class="p"></font><br><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dPTRWMPk7pR03oM&authuser=0&ned=us"><nobr><b></b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>2015-03-26T21:15:35Zurn:uuid:61407ad1-5bff-c556-f317-9ca0387ece0fRecap of House Subcommittee hearing on Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Uniformity Act ... - Lexology (registration)<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNHqGM9zAV-HvQwkR2m7bf3vbWg5UA&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778757921512&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g%3D83794cc0-da9f-46a0-836c-76b3d0ca066d"><b>Recap of House Subcommittee hearing on Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Uniformity Act <b>...</b></b></a><br><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">Lexology (registration)</font></b></font><br><font size="-1">H.R. 870 was introduced by the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, <b>Representative Pedro R. Pierluisi</b>, on February 11, 2015. Anecdotal comments from the Representatives participating in the Subcommittee hearing, particularly Representative Issa, ...</font><br><font size="-1" class="p"></font><br><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dtJLxQ5v-AsDcbM&authuser=0&ned=us"><nobr><b>and more »</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>2015-03-04T15:23:27Zurn:uuid:5c6bcf30-9319-74f7-cb8a-597ffaa5938ePuerto Rico Bankruptcy Bill Could Offer Roadmap for Creditors - Wall Street Journal<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFg29jYzGHbHu1xmkEUQAJRTkJxuQ&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778748606821&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/puerto-rico-bankruptcy-bill-could-offer-roadmap-for-creditors-1424977816"><img src="//t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTFTbP5CYCxwqShggWbQHMWgiV0-NYfyDlLnaCytVq4cdheMhtR81hc7KQTx7529FZkKBdLTA0y" alt="" border="1" width="80" height="80"><br><font size="-2">Wall Street Journal</font></a></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFg29jYzGHbHu1xmkEUQAJRTkJxuQ&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778748606821&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/puerto-rico-bankruptcy-bill-could-offer-roadmap-for-creditors-1424977816"><b>Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Bill Could Offer Roadmap for Creditors</b></a><br><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">Wall Street Journal</font></b></font><br><font size="-1">... path as Detroit, which emerged from a record municipal bankruptcy last year, and aims to reassure investors who are already familiar with the Chapter 9 process, according to <b>Pedro Pierluisi</b>, Puerto Rico's nonvoting <b>congressional representative</b>, who <b>...</b></font><br><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFdQ6-w8jdBiZxIxHbE9XuhOqXDkA&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778748606821&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/26/us-usa-puertorico-restructuring-idUSKBN0LU1X120150226">Future of Puerto Rico bankruptcy bill uncertain in Congress</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>Reuters</nobr></font></font><br><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFhT3UtafKqbHh8R6_mxF4nMdxdDA&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778748606821&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.businessinsider.com/r-bondholders-split-on-merits-of-chapter-9-for-puerto-rico-agencies-2015-2">Bondholders split on merits of Chapter 9 for Puerto Rico agencies</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>Business Insider</nobr></font></font><br><font size="-1" class="p"></font><br><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=deUhOgN8JinJiMMwYHsqUZf6cCCNM&authuser=0&ned=us"><nobr><b>all 284 news articles »</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>2015-02-26T19:11:14Zurn:uuid:69d3af93-bdf8-1371-93a7-6ad0e1aa70d9Puerto Rico bankruptcy bill to get House hearing: sources - Reuters<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFRQHmvHuYZIckY2E6zY0hlSWdRpw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778739666437&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/14/us-usa-puertorico-idUSKBN0LI0WN20150214"><img src="//t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTNBGOmxt5XY-POSF0X6j1mgDUtmu6aZICmXfhyUY9ZIJhJXB1pY_959TnTwwmPNmDpOKYZ4Mgv" alt="" border="1" width="80" height="80"><br><font size="-2">Reuters</font></a></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFRQHmvHuYZIckY2E6zY0hlSWdRpw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778739666437&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/14/us-usa-puertorico-idUSKBN0LI0WN20150214"><b>Puerto Rico bankruptcy bill to get House hearing: sources</b></a><br><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font></b></font><br><font size="-1">The bill to allow Puerto Rico's power, water and highway authorities to reorganize under Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code is sponsored by the U.S. territory's non-voting <b>representative</b> to Congress, Democrat <b>Pedro Pierluisi</b>. Of the three, the <b>...</b></font><br><font size="-1"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNGxMcTguFfhH1vH_QBsnJ9ZsVFtcQ&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778739666437&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/US-House-to-Hear-Bill-on-Puerto-Rico-Multi-Billion-Dollar-Debt-20150215-0020.html">US House to Hear Bill on Puerto Rico Multi-Billion Dollar Debt</a><font size="-1" color="#6f6f6f"><nobr>teleSUR English</nobr></font></font><br><font size="-1" class="p"></font><br><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dSShOUhPszF_YSMNuEEbfuKTLSFMM&authuser=0&ned=us"><nobr><b>all 12 news articles »</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>2015-02-14T23:44:59Zurn:uuid:4b291568-94f5-09d3-7a04-672209b5ae53Bill To Restore Voting Rights Act Gets Another Bipartisan Push - Huffington Post<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNHS1u_opa63HwLBKKuK4yKlzz9Csw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778737236646&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/11/voting-rights-act-bipartisan-bill_n_6598062.html"><b>Bill To Restore Voting Rights Act Gets Another Bipartisan Push</b></a><br><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">Huffington Post</font></b></font><br><font size="-1">An Upton spokeswoman said Friday that the <b>congressman</b> will co-sponsor the bill again. House Democrats on the bill include Reps. Steny Hoyer (Md.), John ... and Resident Commissioner <b>Pedro Pierluisi</b> (P.R.). Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) plans to <b>...</b></font><br><font size="-1" class="p"></font><br><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=d70iwP95QZ4XmIM&authuser=0&ned=us"><nobr><b>and more »</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>2015-02-11T21:42:37Zurn:uuid:1b20dac8-6bfc-2250-6e10-980b55c761a8Faith on the Hill - Pew Research Center's Religion and Public Life Project<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFdGBMGj-UozYroas4lo6WbX-22nw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778703677620&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://www.pewforum.org/2015/01/05/faith-on-the-hill/"><b>Faith on the Hill</b></a><br><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">Pew Research Center's Religion and Public Life Project</font></b></font><br><font size="-1">These are some of the findings from an analysis by the Pew Research Center of <b>congressional</b> data compiled primarily by CQ Roll Call. CQ Roll Call gathered information on the religious affiliations of ... They are: Aumua Amata, R-American Samoa <b>...</b></font><br><font size="-1" class="p"></font><br><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dJT-gJjRSGWaorM&authuser=0&ned=us"><nobr><b>and more »</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>2015-01-05T16:07:15Zurn:uuid:86c12f30-471b-e694-315d-4e6da6f05207Take Five: <b>Pedro R</b>. <b>Pierluisi</b> - Heard on the HillIt's time again for Take Five, when HOH talks with a member of Congress about topics relatively unrelated to legislative work. This week, Puerto Rico's Democratic <em>representative</em> in Congress, Res. Cmmsr. <em>Pedro R</em>. <em>Pierluisi</em>, ...2014-04-14T18:07:00Zurn:uuid:cbb87dd3-cf00-7788-65a4-83f114a292b2bridgetbowman@rollcall.com (Bridget Bowman)Take Five: Pedro R. Pierluisi - Roll Call<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="7" style="vertical-align:top;"><tr><td width="80" align="center" valign="top"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"></font></td><td valign="top" class="j"><font style="font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br><div style="padding-top:0.8em;"><img alt="" height="1" width="1"></div><div class="lh"><a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNEOvhbHdhbwjXgBOvZ6DQCcwoRKMQ&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=43982378046506&ei=wg41VdizAbK88QHbwIGwAQ&url=http://hoh.rollcall.com/take-five-pedro-r-pierluisi/"><b>Take Five: <b>Pedro R</b>. <b>Pierluisi</b></b></a><br><font size="-1"><b><font color="#6f6f6f">Roll Call</font></b></font><br><font size="-1">Cmmsr. <b>Pedro R</b>. <b>Pierluisi</b>, discusses his trip on Air Force One and working as a staffer. Q. While you were attending law school at GWU, you worked as an aide to then-Res. Cmmsr. Baltasar Corrada del Río. How did working as a <b>congressional</b> staffer ...</font><br><font size="-1" class="p"></font><br><font class="p" size="-1"><a class="p" href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dXZ9lS7hkY8Hj8M&authuser=0&ned=us"><nobr><b>and more »</b></nobr></a></font></div></font></td></tr></table>2014-04-14T17:11:00Zurn:uuid:f8bcf16e-cc13-2e49-ace2-0110083f270bPuerto Rico News: <b>Congressman Pedro R. Pierluisi</b> <b>...</b><em>Congressman Pedro R. Pierluisi</em> Remarks at 2013 LULAC National Convention - June 21, 2013. <em>Congressman Pedro R. Pierluisi</em> Remarks at 2013 LULAC National Convention - June 21, 2013. Last November, Puerto Rico ...2013-06-27T12:36:00Zurn:uuid:97fd139f-b570-405f-1536-abdf4f72fc40Mike NovaTranscript: <b>Pedro R</b>. <b>Pierluisi's</b> remarks at the Democratic <b>...</b>Transcript of remarks by <em>Pedro R</em>. <em>Pierluisi</em>, Chair of National Community Mobilization for the Democratic <em>Congressional</em> Campaign Committee, Non-Voting Member of the U.S. House of <em>Representatives</em>, Resident ...2012-09-05T22:45:11Zurn:uuid:7eff5322-b6e7-260d-08e8-e3f72dbe9ab2editorAmerica's #1 Facebook Censorship Politician: Puerto Rican <b>...</b>In a bizarre game of political Facebook censorship, the official public Fan Page of Puerto Rican <em>Pedro Pierluisi</em>—a non-voting member of the US House of <em>Representatives</em>—admitted to us that they had indeed blocked us from ...2011-06-18T03:08:22Zurn:uuid:d7a30f00-bc6a-01a2-597c-322e0feb66e1Julito VarelaPuerto Rican Resident Commissioner <b>Pedro Pierluisi</b> is the <b>...</b>... has listed the Hon. <em>Pedro Pierluisi</em>, Puerto Rican Resident Commissioner and non-voting member of the US House of <em>Representatives</em>, as the House's biggest spender, having accumulated $2.1 million in expenses to…2011-03-23T20:26:44Zurn:uuid:4d7a77bd-7933-c2df-b3d9-6837788eb7c4Julito VarelaPuerto Rico Resident Commissioner <b>Pedro Pierluisi</b> Lashes <b>...</b>... formally responded to the February 16 remarks made by Illinois Congressman Luis Gutiérrez. Here is a full copy of Pierlusi's comments, which are now part of the House record: <em>Congressman Pedro R. Pierluisi</em> Statement…2011-02-22T04:45:02Zurn:uuid:ef49022e-4e47-33b7-2d2a-cc6ea2390e23juliorvarela