Puerto Rico is offering a Return-to-Work Incentive Program, as are a number of states, including Kentucky, Arizona, and Maine. The Return-to-Work Incentive Programs are intended to encourage American workers to return to the workforce at a time when many employers are having trouble filling positions. The funds are directed specifically toward people on unemployment benefits…. Read more »

There are currently two bills on Puerto Rico status being considered in Congress, and specifically in the House Natural Resources Committee: HR 1522 HR 2070 The two bills seem to be in direct conflict with each other. HR 1522 recognizes the November 2020 referendum, in which a majority of voters chose statehood. It calls for… Read more »

China is investing heavily in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and may also be working hard to improve public perception of China in that part of the world. The United States, on the other hand, has been exerting less influence in the region. The percentage of exports from LAC to China went from 1.1%… Read more »

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has added Puerto Rico to its list of Level 4 (highest risk) travel destinations. “Get fully vaccinated before traveling to Puerto Rico,” the latest recommendation reads. Level 4 also carries the message, “Avoid travel to this destination” on the page defining the levels. For Puerto Rico, this classification could… Read more »

Jose Luis Vaello-Madero received SSI benefits from Social Security when he lived in New York. When he moved to Puerto Rico, he continued receiving those benefits for several years, even though residents of Puerto Rico are not eligible for SSI. SSI, or Supplemental Security Income, is specifically for elderly, disabled, needy individuals. When Social Security… Read more »

Puerto Rico Governor Pero Pierluisi has released details of the distribution of American Rescue Plan Act, or ARP, funds received by Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico will receive $4.02 billion in funding. $2.47 billion will go to the Island’s central government and $1.55 billion to municipal governments. The American Rescue Plan was enacted by Congress in… Read more »

The U.S. Census Bureau has released new information from the most recent Census. One of the biggest pieces of news from the new data is that there are now five states and territories in which people who identify themselves as white are not the largest group: California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico…. Read more »

On August 16, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a 23% increase – worth $463.8 million in annual funding – for nutrition assistance in the U.S. territory on Puerto Rico effective October 1, 2021. This increase – conducted nationwide – was driven by a Congressionally-mandated re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, a data-driven estimate of… Read more »

An anti-statehood march planned for August 15th in San Juan was postponed because of inclement weather conditions ahead of Tropical Storm Grace. No new date has been set. Organizers claimed that they were marching “for anti-colonization and against statehood.” Puerto Rico is currently an unincorporated territory of the United States. The alternatives to the current… Read more »

Puerto Rico’s flag often shows up in social media. Observers will note that is seems to come in different colors, and comments often  follow, saying that the wrong flag is being shown. The example below called out McDonald’s rather than an individual. Specifically, the controversy usually focuses on the shade of blue being presented. In… Read more »