The House of Representatives voted on Friday to admit the District of Columbia as a state. The state, including 66 of the current 68 square miles of the District, would be named Washington, Douglass Commonwealth in honor of Frederick Douglass. The remaining two square miles would be the new federal District. It would include the… Read more »

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court upheld the legality of the PROMESA Fiscal Oversight and Management Board in a ruling in which the Court concluded that the members of the Board are not “officers of the United States.” “Officers of the United States” are, according to the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, to be… Read more »

Update: The House approved statehood for Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2020. The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on statehood for Washington, D.C., on Friday. The vote will consider a bill introduced by delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) in January, 2019. The bill was considered by the Committee on Oversight and Reform. Rep. Carolyn B…. Read more »

Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced signed the Electoral Code last week after extensive discussions with various stakeholders. According to NotiCel, a Puerto Rico news source, Vazquez signed the new law while recognizing the difficulty of coming to an agreement among all parties on the complex measure.  “My responsibility as governor,” she noted, “is to… Read more »

Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez gave a State of the Commonwealth address that included a proposed budget for fiscal year 2021. The spending plan calls for $169 million more than the budget proposed by the PROMESA Fiscal Oversight and Management Board (FOMB). The government’s $10.2 billion budget combined with federal funds and special revenue funds… Read more »

On June 14, Governor Wanda Vázquez signed into law the Supplementary Act to Address the Effects on the Puerto Rican Economy caused by the COVID-19 Emergency, creating new tax and economic stimulus measures to enhance the Puerto Rico economy by strengthening small and mid-size businesses. The new law’s provisions will remain in effect as long… Read more »

The House Committee on Natural Resources held a remote hearing on the implementation of PROMESA during the coronavirus pandemic. The hearing took place on June 11th, 2020, and included testimony by Ms. Natalie Jaresko, the Executive Director of the Financial Oversight and Management Board, and Mr. Omar Marrero, the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency & Financial Advisory Authority…. Read more »

Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced announced Thursday night that most coronavirus restrictions will be lifted. All businesses may now reopen, including gyms, spas, museums, daycares, and theaters, as well as beaches, parks, and houses of worship. Sporting events, fairs, and performances will be allowed. Tourists will be welcomed back to the Island beginning on… Read more »

In November, two important ballot issues will affect Puerto Rico. Those living in Puerto Rico will have another opportunity to vote on statehood. This vote will offer the same simple choice Alaska and Hawaii had in the 20thcentury: a straight up-or-down vote on statehood. The government of Puerto Rico hopes that the 2020 plebiscite will… Read more »

U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Child Tax Credit Equity for Puerto Rico Act (S. 698) last year. Now they’ve written to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY.) and Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) encouraging them to include its provisions in the coronavirus stimulus blll the Senate is planning. Child Tax… Read more »