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For Immediate Release
Contact: Email:,coord(at)jubileeusa.org

House Passes Puerto Rico Debt Crisis Legislation

Senate Poised to Pass Bill Before July 1

WASHINGTON

The House passed Puerto Rico debt crisis legislation 297-127. The Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act now heads to the US Senate for approval.

"The bill was a compromise and it's encouraging that Republicans and Democrats came together to pass this bill," said Eric LeCompte, who testified to Congress on the legislation and who is the executive director of the religious development coalition Jubilee USA. "We were grateful to see unanimous support to pass our amendment to address child poverty on the island."

An amendment sponsored by Representatives Jolly [R-FL] and Curbelo [R-FL] to recommend policies to end child poverty on the island passed unanimously by a voice vote. The child poverty amendment was supported by Jubilee USA, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, the Union of Reform Judaism and the Church of the Brethren. The House also approved an amendment to allow a Puerto Rico commission to continue auditing the territory's debt.

"The House took a powerful action by protecting the continuing investigative work of the debt audit commission." shared LeCompte. "I'm glad that Representatives Serrano and Velazquez won approval for their amendment to support the Puerto Rico debt audit."

The Senate version of the bill is poised to pass with a similar level of bipartisan support.

"Speaker Ryan, Chair Bishop, Ranking Member Grijalva and Representatives Duffy, Velazquez, Serrano, Pierluisi and Young deserve credit for shaping and passing this bill," stated LeCompte. "Because a group of Republicans and Democrats put Puerto Rico's people first and special interests second, we have a meaningful bill."

See the roll call vote for the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act

Read a timeline of Puerto Rico's debt crisis

Jubilee USA Network is an interfaith, non-profit alliance of religious, development and advocacy organizations. We are 75 U.S. institutions and more than 750 faith groups working across the United States and around the globe. We address the structural causes of poverty and inequality in our communities and countries around the world.

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