Congress is calling for a report on the collapse of the Arecibo Observatory

Washington DC – Congress approved last night to demand that the National Science Foundation (NSF) present a report within 60 days on the damage caused by the collapse of the Arecibo Radio Telescope, the cleaning process and the ability to restore a similar technology.

“Congress recognized that the Arecibo Observatory radio telescope has not only been a scientific treasure for our island for the past 57 years, but was also an integral part of the capabilities of our nation and the international community,” said the resident commissioner. in Washington, Jenniffer González, who promoted the language together with Democratic Congressman Stephanie Murphy (Florida).

The language is included in the budget omnibus approved last night that includes allocations for the 2021 federal fiscal year and measures aimed at boosting the economy and mitigating the health emergency that the coronavirus has sparked.

The legislation integrated the bill passed in the lower house and raises to $ 255.8 million congressional approval for the Caño Martín Peña’s environmental restoration project. It also authorizes flood control projects in the Culebrinas River, the Grande de Manatí and the Guayanilla River in Puerto Rico.

The commissioner also highlighted the measure of the language of her project 6050, making Puerto Rico eligible for grants from the WaterSMART and Drought Resiliency Project programs from the Office of Recovery of the United States Department of the Interior.

“With this legislation, Puerto Rico will have access to grants for the development of projects that deliver measurable water savings, projects aimed at efficiency in water conservation and use, funding opportunities for the development of marketing strategies to establish or expand markets. including water, ”he said.

While a $ 528 million increase was originally proposed in the Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN) allocations, the commissioner said regular funds for fiscal year 2021 will again be about $ 2 billion. In any case, the measure that allocated $ 900,000 million to boost the economy includes more than $ 500 million in food aid funds for the island.

The deputy also indicated that the bus subsidizes the budget $ 2 million for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Island Grant Program; and $ 2 million for the program to reimburse transport costs for farmers and ranchers in geographically disadvantaged areas.

Another piece of legislation proposes $ 37 million in front of the Fort Allen Preparation Center, Puerto Rico’s National Guard.

González also called the $ 29.2 million allotment for the transition at the Borinquen airbase of the Coast Guard in Aguadilla from MH-65 to MH-60 helicopters, to improve the effectiveness of their missions.

They, in turn, are rewarded $ 400,000 to support the operation and maintenance of the tactical communications system of the National Security Investigations Division of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

They have also been assigned $ 4.07 million for operation and maintenance work on dredging the fairways of the port of San Juan; $ 126,000 for the inspection of projects completed by the Corps of Engineers in Puerto Rico; and $ 100,000 for inspections of the conditions of projects in Puerto Rico.

In terms of transportation, the measure sets $ 2.7 million for Puerto Rico’s highways program.

The legislation also included language rejecting the closure of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico.

Commissioner González emphasized the language she was promoting for the FBI to improve the collection and publication of crime statistics from Puerto Rico and the rest of the areas, and to urge the United States Attorney General to report on initiatives to Combating Violent Crimes in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.