Bill > HR596

This bill requires the Comptroller General (the head of the Government Accountability Office) to conduct a comprehensive study on grant consolidation for Puerto Rico within one year of enactment. The study comes in response to Puerto Rico's ongoing economic challenges, including municipal bankruptcy, high poverty rates, and significant recovery efforts from multiple disasters like hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the study will examine how Puerto Rican local agencies currently access federal funding, identify which grant programs could be added to a consolidated funding list, analyze challenges in obtaining funding, and assess whether extending grant consolidation access to Puerto Rico could help address these challenges. The Comptroller General must consult with Puerto Rican officials and compile a report for key congressional committees, including those focused on natural resources, education, labor, energy, and commerce. Puerto Rican officials are required to provide complete information within 90 days of being requested, and a lack of response may be interpreted negatively in the final report. The ultimate goal is to help minimize administrative burden on Puerto Rico's public sector and maximize its ability to access federal funding.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/596/all-info