Federal Chamber Gives Way to Measures by Jenniffer González to Equalize Funds and Combat Drug Trafficking

Press Release

The House of Representatives plenary session approved last night, unopposed, the HR 5875 of the co-author of the resident commissioner, Jenniffer González Colón, who seeks equality in federal funds for the promotion of hunting and fishing safety and wildlife protection.

For its part, the National Security Committee of the federal House of Representatives, approved today in its voting view, HR 5869 of the resident commissioner that would establish a federal plan of action against terrorism and criminal activities, such as trafficking in drugs, in the so-called Transit Zone.

The measure passed last night, HR 5875 seeks to amend the Pittman-Robertson Act for the Restoration of Wildlife and the Dingell-Johnson Act of Federal Assistance to Recreational Fishing Restoration so that various funds are distributed to the territories, including the Port. Rico, and the District of Columbia under these laws, are partially in proportion to its population, as is done with the states.

These funds are for wildlife restoration projects, educational hunting programs and for the protection of marine and terrestrial fauna and their habitat.

On May 22, the Federal Land Subcommittee of the Natural Resources Committee of the Federal House of Representatives held a public hearing on HR 5875 where the chairman of the Federal and International Relations Commission and Status of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Rico, José Aponte Hernández, deposed in favor of the measure, which in the end seeks equal treatment in the distribution of federal funds.

These funds come from federal taxes on hunting and fishing equipment. While states are guaranteed at least 1% of these funds plus a formula per population, the territories and the District of Columbia only receive a fixed amount between 0.167% and 0.25% of each.

This measure is the responsibility of the congresswoman for Guam, Madeleine Z. Bordallo and has as coauthors all the representatives of the territories including the resident commissioner who has emphasized that with the admission of Puerto Rico as a state this type of disparity would be solved since all laws and programs would be adapted for an equitable distribution of funds. Now the measure passes to the Senate.

The second measure of González Colón that had been approved was HR 5869, which would be known as the Law to Review the Safety of the Maritime Border approved by the National Security Committee in its vote on measures, now it is expected by voting in the plenary session of the Chamber.

This project would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a detailed analysis of the maritime boundary threat, defined as the Transit Zone and the borders of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, especially when Puerto Rico has become a destination and transshipment point. of drugs to the continent.

The Transit Zone comprises seven million square miles that include the western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern Pacific Ocean with Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands as the only American jurisdictions located geographically within the Area. traffic.

The measure counts with six other co-authors: Peter King (R-NY), Dan Donovan (R-NY), Don Bacon (R-NE), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Sean Duffy (R-WI).

The study entrusted to the Secretary of Homeland Security should examine the terrorism and threats of individuals and criminal organizations seeking to enter the United States through the maritime border; besides contemplating what improvements are necessary in the maritime ports of the United States to reduce the criminal activity and the threat of terrorism.

It should also analyze vulnerabilities that may exist in laws, policies, cooperation agreements between state, territorial and local governments or international agreements that impede effective border security.

In conducting this analysis, the Secretary of Homeland Security should consider the following factors: technological needs and challenges; staff needs and challenges; the role of the application of state, territorial and local law in general border security activities; the need for adequate cooperation between the entities responsible for border security at the federal, state, territorial, local and international levels; the geographical challenges of the maritime boundary; and the impact and consequences of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, María and Nate in general on border security activities with respect to the maritime border.

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