Pelosi Statement on Republican Introduction of Puerto Rico Bill

---

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement after House Republicans formally introduced legislation to address Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis and unsustainable debt burden:

“Today, our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico face a fiscal and public debt crisis that weighs on the future of their economy and their communities.  We have a responsibility to address this crisis facing Puerto Rican families in a way that is sustainable over time.

“More work needs to be done on the heart of the Republican proposal to improve the makeup and scope of the board and streamline the restructuring process to make it more workable.  In addition, we have concerns about the negative impact of the legislation on working people in Puerto Rico, as well as the effects of transferring federal lands on Vieques without providing for strong conservation protections.

“The problems in the bill are fixable and we hope they will be remedied very soon.  We have entered these discussions in good faith, and we look forward to continuing them in a way that meets the needs of our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico.”