H.R. 5501: Data Improvement for Puerto Rico Recovery Act

This bill, known as the Data Improvement for Puerto Rico Recovery Act, aims to enhance the effectiveness of federal grant processes related to recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, specifically following disasters such as Hurricanes Irma and María, the 2020 earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study Requirements

The bill mandates that within one year of its enactment, the Comptroller General must prepare and submit a report to the relevant congressional committees. This report must include several key components:

• List of Grants: A comprehensive list of all grants awarded by federal agencies to support Puerto Rico's recovery, detailing the type, amount, and corresponding disaster or emergency.
• Assessment of Statistical Products: An evaluation of how statistical data was utilized at different stages of the grant process, including:
• Notice of funding opportunity
• Development
• Application review
• Award selection
• Formulation of terms and conditions
• Technical assistance
• Critical Data Needs: An analysis of significant data needs identified by grant-awarding agencies that impact the management of disaster-related grants. This includes issues like lack of data coverage, disparities, reporting delays, and reliability concerns.
• Impact of Data Gaps: A description of how these data gaps have hindered effective grant allocation and management in Puerto Rico, providing specific examples where execution was problematic.
• Federal Products Recommendations: Recommendations for integrating Puerto Rico into federal programs that currently exclude the territory, which could enhance the grant allocation and oversight processes.

Access to Information

The bill stipulates that any federal official contacted by the Comptroller General for information related to the report must provide a comprehensive response within 90 days of the request.

Definitions

The bill includes definitions for key terms to clarify its provisions, including:

• Appropriate Congressional Committees: Specifically refers to the Committee on Natural Resources in the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in the Senate.
• Grant-Awarding Agencies: Agencies that have provided funding or support for recovery efforts in Puerto Rico.
• Relevant Agencies: A list of agencies involved in disaster recovery efforts, including but not limited to:
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Small Business Administration
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Statistical Products: Refers to federal statistical inputs and estimates used in the management of grant funding.

Implementation Timeline

The findings from the required study will serve as a basis for improving the data processes associated with federal grants aimed at disaster recovery in Puerto Rico, with a strong emphasis on identifying and addressing existing data gaps.

Relevant Companies

None found