House unanimously approves aid to Puerto Rico

The VOICE of Congress

Murphy's Amendment ensures that Puerto Rico is treated equally under federal program

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives today unanimously approved a bipartisan amendment authored by Rep. Stephanie Murphy to ensure that families in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico are treated equally under the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. The MIECHV program provides annual grants to states and territories to fund home visiting services, including parenting education, for families with young children. Reps. Jenniffer González-Colón, R-P.R., and Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., co-sponsored the amendment.

Rep. Stephanie Murphy

“The MIECHV program invests in our children in a way that strengthens families, helps lift them out of poverty, and increases the chance that they will become productive and successful citizens. My amendment simply ensures that Puerto Rico gets its fair share of this important federal investment,” said Murphy. “The unanimous passage of my amendment helps underscore Congress’ commitment to our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We’re all part of one American family, and I’ll continue working across party lines to ensure that Puerto Rico receives this nation’s full and equal support.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) makes grants to states and territories based, in part, on a U.S. Census Bureau data product on childhood poverty. However, that product does not include information on Puerto Rico or the other territories. As a result, Puerto Rico always receives the minimum grant allowed by law, even though the island of 3.4 million people has a high rate of childhood poverty. Murphy’s bipartisan amendment would require HHS to use the best federal data available for every state and territory—including an appropriate alternative data source in the case of Puerto Rico—when making grant allocations.

Murphy has also been working in Congress to deliver urgent aid to Americans impacted by the most recent hurricanes, whether they reside in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Murphy delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today in support of her amendment. To watch her remarks, click here.

This is the seventh bill or amendment that Murphy has authored or co-authored that has passed the U.S. House of Representatives since she took office in January 2017.