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S 2165 115th Congress Senate Emergency Management

Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act of 2017

Introduced: November 28, 2017 Introduced by: Sanders, Bernard Independent · Vermont See on congress.gov
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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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 28, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Nov 28, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act of 2017

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 several grant programs to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy;
  • subject to specified oversight requirements, increases funding for transportation infrastructure, telecommunications systems, housing, and community development;
  • increases funding for the Medicaid and Medicare programs;
  • 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 the earned-income tax credit, the child tax credit, and unemployment assistance;
  • increases funding for economic and community development programs;
  • increases funding for environmental remediation; 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;
  • extends participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to all territories;
  • modifies provisions concerning the application of certain workers' protections in Puerto Rico; and
  • requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to submit to Congress a long-term disaster-relief plan with respect to Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands.
What's happening now November 28, 2017

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Related & companion bills 8
  • HR 261 Related bill Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equality Act
  • HR 2404 Related bill Improving the Treatment of the U.S. Territories Under Federal Health Programs Act of 2017
  • HR 2530 Related bill Earned Income Tax Credit Equity for Puerto Act of 2017
  • HR 2531 Related bill Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equality Act of 2017
  • S 2026 Related bill Improving the Treatment of the U.S. Territories Under Federal Health Programs Act of 2017
  • HR 4307 Related bill Public School Emergency Relief Act
  • HR 2263 Related bill Medicaid and CHIP Territory Transparency and Information Act
  • HR 4782 Related bill Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act of 2018
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 6
All 6 Democratic 6
D
Merkley, Jeff
Oregon · Jun 20, 2018
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Nov 28, 2017
 D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Nov 28, 2017
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Nov 28, 2017
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Nov 28, 2017
 D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Nov 28, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2165: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-2165/
MLA
"S. 2165: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-2165/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2165, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-2165/.
Markdown link
[S. 2165: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-2165/)
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