Skip to main content
H.R. 4782 115th Congress House

Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act of 2018

Official title: To provide additional disaster recovery assistance for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 23, 2018 Introduced by: Stacey E. Plaskett Democratic · Virgin Islands See on congress.gov
Emergency Management Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAgricultural educationAgricultural prices, subsidies, creditAlternative and renewable resources
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
American SamoaAviation and airportsChild care and developmentChild healthChild safety and welfareCommunity life and organizationCongressional oversightCredit and credit marketsDigital mediaDisaster relief and insuranceEconomic developmentEducation programs fundingElectric power generation and transmissionElementary and secondary educationEmergency planning and evacuationEmployment and training programsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEnergy assistance for the poor and agedEnergy efficiency and conservationFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Floods and storm protectionFood assistance and reliefForests, forestry, treesGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesGovernment lending and loan guaranteesGovernment studies and investigationsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth facilities and institutionsHealth personnelHigher educationHistoric sites and heritage areasHospital careHousing and community development fundingHybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehiclesIncome tax creditsInfrastructure developmentInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaLivestockLow- and moderate-income housingMarine and inland water transportationMedicaidMedicareMental healthMilitary facilities and propertyNatural disastersNorthern Mariana IslandsParks, recreation areas, trailsPoverty and welfare assistancePrescription drugsPublic housingPublic transitPublic utilities and utility ratesPuerto RicoRailroadsRoads and highwaysRural conditions and developmentSchool administrationSex and reproductive healthSmall businessSolid waste and recyclingStudent aid and college costsStudent recordsTax treatment of familiesTeaching, teachers, curriculaTelephone and wireless communicationTransportation programs fundingU.S. territories and protectoratesUnemploymentVeterans' medical careVirgin IslandsWages and earningsWater qualityWatershedsWomen's health
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 22, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
Jan 16, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
Jan 16, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Jan 12, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Jan 12, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Jan 12, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Jan 12, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Jan 12, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Jan 11, 2018
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Agriculture, Ways and Means, Natural Resources, Education and the Workforce, the Budget, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 11, 2018
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action May 22, 2018

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act of 2018

This bill provides for additional disaster-recovery assistance and other assistance to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with respect to infrastructure, health care, agriculture, education, economic development, and environmental remediation, among other sectors. Specifically, regarding both territories, the bill:

  • provides for the use of certain emergency assistance to rebuild electric grids;
  • establishes grant programs to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy;
  • subject to oversight requirements, increases funding for transportation infrastructure, telecommunications systems, housing, and community development;
  • increases funding for Medicaid and Medicare;
  • temporarily increases social-services block-grant allotments;
  • increases funding for, and otherwise revises, rural and agricultural programs;
  • increases funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs;
  • provides for aid to the Head Start program, elementary and secondary education programs, and higher education programs;  
  • increases funding for training and employment services;
  • modifies provisions concerning unemployment assistance, taxation, and federal permitting;
  • increases funding for economic and community development programs;
  • increases funding for environmental remediation;
  • requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to submit to Congress a disaster-relief plan; and
  • otherwise modifies provisions related to emergency funding and disaster-recovery assistance.

In addition, the bill:

  • extends Medicaid waiver authority to all territories, provides for Medicaid disproportionate share hospital allotments to the territories, and otherwise revises the Medicaid and Medicare programs with respect to the territories;
  • provides for health-insurance coverage for individuals residing in territories without health exchanges;
  • extends participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Supplemental Security Income Program to all territories;
  • modifies provisions concerning the earned-income tax credit and the child tax credit with respect to the territories; and 
  • modifies provisions concerning the application of certain workers' protections in Puerto Rico.
 Related & companion bills 12
  • HR 4307 Public School Emergency Relief Act
  • HR 185 Territorial Economic Growth and Recovery Act of 2017
  • HR 186 United States Virgin Islands College Access Act of 2017
  • HR 261 Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equality Act
  • HR 2263 Medicaid and CHIP Territory Transparency and Information Act
  • HR 2404 Improving the Treatment of the U.S. Territories Under Federal Health Programs Act of 2017
  • HR 2531 Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equality Act of 2017
  • HR 3226 Supplemental Security Income Equality Act
  • HR 4251 Rebuilding Resilient Energy Systems Act of 2017
  • S 2026 Improving the Treatment of the U.S. Territories Under Federal Health Programs Act of 2017
Show all 12 related billsShow fewer related bills
  • S 2041 Rebuilding Resilient Energy Systems Act of 2017
  • S 2165 Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act of 2017
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 17
 Cosponsors 21
All 21 Democratic 14
D
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Florida · Oct 5, 2018
LEWIS, JOHN
· Apr 25, 2018
GUTIERREZ, LUIS
· Apr 23, 2018
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Apr 23, 2018
 D
Jeffries, Hakeem S.
New York · Feb 23, 2018
 D
Luján, Ben Ray
New Mexico · Feb 7, 2018
 D
Pocan, Mark
Wisconsin · Feb 6, 2018
 D
Raskin, Jamie
Maryland · Feb 6, 2018
 D
Espaillat, Adriano
New York · Feb 2, 2018
 D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Feb 2, 2018
HASTINGS, ALCEE
· Jan 30, 2018
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Jan 22, 2018
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Jan 22, 2018
Bordallo, Madeleine
· Jan 19, 2018
Demings, Val
· Jan 19, 2018
Lee, Barbara
· Jan 17, 2018
 D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Jan 17, 2018
 D
Wilson, Frederica S.
Florida · Jan 17, 2018
CROWLEY, JOSEPH
· Jan 11, 2018
 D
Soto, Darren
Florida · Jan 11, 2018
 D
Velázquez, Nydia M.
New York · Jan 11, 2018
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4782: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act of 2018. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4782/
MLA
"H.R. 4782: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act of 2018." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4782/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4782, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4782/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4782: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act of 2018](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4782/)
Report a problem