On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives brushed aside a veto threat from President Trump and passed a $21 billion plus spending bill prompted by the earthquakes that began in Puerto Rico December 28th. The measure would primarily benefit the U.S. territory. Seventeen Republicans joined Democrats to pass the legislation to which an additional $224… Read more »

Just a couple of months ago, former Vice President Joe Biden picked up endorsements from 25 Puerto Rican leaders, ranging from former Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla to several Florida members of the U.S. legislature. One of these leaders, former state Rep. Robert Asencio, has changed his mind. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg… Read more »

Jennifer Lopez, a performing artist of Puerto Rican heritage, brought excitement to the Super Bowl Halftime Show with a performance of “Born in the USA” featuring a Puerto Rican flag. Social media got the point and supported it. Jennifer Lopez, who performed with with her daughter Emme and Colombian singer Shakira in the halftime show,… Read more »

A number of tax benefits for Puerto Rico and the other U.S. territories have been added to the Puerto Rico earthquakes assistance bill that the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass next week. Leading the list is extending the portion of the Child Tax Credit that makes payments to workers beyond the extent… Read more »

Pedro Pierluisi, who was the Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico at the time, wrote a letter to President Obama in 2015 recommending a yes-or-no vote on statehood for Puerto Rico. “Thomas Jefferson wrote the ‘the ground of liberty is to be gained by inches’,” Pierluisi began his letter. He went on to define statehood as… Read more »

Former New York City Mayor and Presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg has come out in favor of statehood for Puerto Rico. “For decades, Puerto Ricans and their interests have been ignored by Washington. And there’s a simple reason why: They don’t have a vote in Congress,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “There’s a clear solution to… Read more »

U.S. House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Lowey (D-NY) last night proposed a bill to appropriate $4.67 billion in special disaster assistance for Puerto Rico. The bill has the support of the Democratic leadership and is expected to pass the House of Representatives next week. A Trump Administration official said in reaction to an earlier $3.35 billion… Read more »

The Trump Administration does not see a need for new appropriations for assistance to Puerto Rico to cope with the damaging earthquakes that began December 28th and are continuing in the central and southwestern portion of the island of Puerto Rico. A senior official was quoted this morning in Politico as reacting to the plans… Read more »

Inspired by ABC’s “Shark Tank,” the New York Federal Reserve is bringing a pitch day to San Juan, Puerto Rico on January 27 and 28th. The event, modeled on one created by the Kansas City Fed in 2011, brings investors and community organizations together for a pitch competition. Shark Tank in San Juan? “Shark Tank”… Read more »

Puerto Rico has been hit by more than 1,280 earthquakes in the past month. How severe have the quakes been, what has caused them, and will there be more? What’s magnitude? When we hear that Puerto Rico has experienced a 6.4 magnitude earthquake, what does that mean? Earthquakes are measured according to the Richter scale, developed… Read more »