Time running out for Congress to do its job for Puerto Rico

The alarm sounded more than a year ago on the impending humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico due to the island’s massive debt issue. As the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) noted last fall, while many can and have played a role in stemming the crisis, the ultimate responsibility to solve this problem lies with Congress. While Speaker Ryan, Congressman Rob Bishop, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and others have shown leadership in moving legislation forward, more needs to be done quickly for the people of Puerto Rico.

As negotiations in Congress continue over the nature of debt restructuring, the situation on the island is deteriorating rapidly. Nearly half the population lives in poverty; the unemployment rate is more than twice the national average; and foreclosures have gone up 89% since 2008. Puerto Rico is losing its tax base, having lost population—nearly half a million people—in a decade when the rest of the Hispanic population grew at a historic rate. The stability and safety of its neighborhoods and communities have been compromised not only by budget cuts to law enforcement, but by the abandonment of homes due to outmigration and underwater mortgages.

And what is currently a nightmare will turn into dystopia as the Puerto Rican government is unable to make payments as it did this week and again later in July on its debt obligations totaling more than $70 billion. Already, hundreds of schools have closed. Hospitals are having their lights turned off and are losing skilled doctors to the mainland at a rate of one per day. It is likely that millions of voters will be disenfranchised because the government cannot afford to print ballots for the upcoming democratic primary.

Adding to the island’s woes is a potential plague of biblical proportions in the Zika virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Puerto Rico is “by far the most affected area in the United States” with one in five Puerto Ricans on the island at risk for contracting the disease. Yet most homes and businesses are unable to even afford the window screens or spray that can prevent the mosquito population from spreading the virus.

A key phrase here is “in the United States.” What some in Congress fail to recognize is that the 3.5 million people of Puerto Rico live in the United States. They are American citizens: they serve in our armed forces and share our values. There are hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans in Florida, New York, and elsewhere who are deeply concerned and looking for Congress to act. And there are 55 million Latinos in this country who are seeing millions of citizens suffering and asking why are we letting this happen.

To answer this question, the Speaker and his colleagues must continue their work with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and other leaders to enact bipartisan legislation that respects the governance and integrity of Puerto Rico and allows for an orderly restructuring of the island’s debt obligations.

Finally, contrary to a barrage of ads that have appeared on television recently, this is not about a bailout, it is about treating American citizens fairly and with compassion. And that should also include ending their unequal treatment under federal law when it comes to Medicare and Medicaid payments, access to anti-poverty programs, bankruptcy, and other factors. The prospect for an economically strong Puerto Rico in the future depends on it.

When I first wrote about this last November, I stated that this issue was not going away. Not only has it not gone away, it has gotten much, much worse. Turning a blind eye is no longer an option. One way or another, congressional leadership will have to address this issue. The question is whether they will act in time to avert a complete and total catastrophe that will reverberate for generations to come.

Janet Murguía is President and CEO of NCLR (The National Council of La Raza)