Jenniffer González advocates compensation for Vieques residents

Press Release

The Resident Commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón, has not stopped her fight in favor of the Viequenses since Congress. The congresswoman filed the Vieques Recovery and Redevelopment Bill, a bipartisan proposal that seeks to grant compensation to Vieques residents with health conditions that could be related to the military exercises that were carried out on the island and that would also seek to create the conditions for the development of a complete health center and an independent power grid.

The congresswoman had presented the measure in the last Congress, with bipartisan co-sponsorship and this time again the original co-sponsors are the Democratic Representative of Florida Darren Soto and the Republican Representative of Mississippi, Trent Kelly.

Towards the end of last Congress he also had the backing of the then Republican leader on the House Committee on Natural Resources, Rob Bishop, and New York Congressman Lee Zeldin, member of the Financial Affairs Committee, to join the budget project approved in December, but could not be done as it was decided that only immediately pressing amendments would be approved.

"The Vieques Recovery and Redevelopment Law would outline the route for the federal government to continue with its commitment to Isla Nena, not only with the cleaning of land and water, but this time prioritizing the health of the residents and laying the foundations for their economic development. The measure establishes a process to claim and collect compensation for health conditions on the island of Vieques and to provide the provision of adequate health services to residents, "explained González Colón.

When the measure was originally filed, Representative Soto indicated that "it is imperative that we support the people of Vieques and recognize their sacrifices by adequately compensating them." Congressman Kelly stated that "our friends in Puerto Rico are valued citizens of our great nation. I am proud to support Congresswoman González-Colón and the people of the island of Vieques with this vital legislation. "

Senators Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Bob Menendez of New Jersey introduced a supplemental bill in the Senate in the last Congress and are expected to do the same soon. In the course of managing the project, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee (Homeland Security) Bennie Thompson from Mississippi, New York Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez and the now-retired Congresswoman José Serrano also joined as co-suitors.

The measure addresses the situation of the limited access of Viequenses to health services, transportation difficulties and the increase in the cost of living, after 60 years of use of the island for military training. "Having served the nation by hosting one of the largest naval training facilities in the Atlantic area, it is a matter of justice to ensure that, along with physical cleanliness, the health of the residents is taken care of," added González Colón.

The bill provides for the appointment of a Special Commissioner by the federal Secretary of Justice, who will be responsible for evaluating claims regarding their nature and validity and providing a process for the resolution of claims, through compensation that would come from the Sentencing Fund created under section 1304 of title 31 of the United States Code of Laws to resolve lawsuits, therefore, it would not require new allocations of funds. The bill arises after the courts had previously determined that there was no legal dispute over the Viequenses' claims and suggested that Congress be the ones to offer compensation.

Claims by individuals or their survivors would have to be documented as to the nature of the injury or illness, the expenses incurred, and the person's residence on Vieques. These compensations would be between $ 10,000 and $ 110,000 depending on the type and severity of the case, and would not be counted as income against the other social benefits that the person receives.

As part of the agreement, it is proposed that the community compensation package include support for the improvement of health services in Vieques, including the provision of tests for the care of chronic diseases, as well as for pediatric and adult services. at the medical center; and to cover the costs of medical transportation and telemedicine services until these services are available.

Finally, the Special Commissioner is empowered to explore with academic partners the conduct of studies to determine alternatives for environmental improvement and to develop a resilient energy network in Vieques.

Progress of the reconstruction of the Health Center

A meeting is coordinated with FEMA, other agencies and the Municipality of Vieques requested by the representative of the municipality and spokesman for the Minority in the House of Representatives, Carlos "Johnny" Méndez, which would follow up meeting of these entities called by the Resident Commissioner a year ago, which will specifically address the status of the process to put into effect the reconstruction of the health center in Vieques and the availability of the funds allocated for these purposes.

On the status of the cleaning of the islands of Vieques and Culebra

The commissioner assured to include in the report of the National Defense Authorization Law, language where the Office of the Comptroller General (GAO) is ordered to complete a study and present a report to the defense committees of Congress on the status of the federal cleaning and decontamination process in the municipalities of the island of Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico, no later than 180 days after the approval of the law.

In January, GAO reported that the preliminary draft is being worked on internally with the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. of Puerto Rico, with the objective that they collect inputs and comments in order to issue the final report before the end of next March.

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