THE LONG GAME: Senate committee deadlocks on For the People Act; House to move forward with January 6th commission
A contentious mark-up session in the Senate Rules Committee last week demonstrated the deep divide between the two parties on how—and whether—to give more Americans access to the polls and reduce the influence of money in politics. On a 9-9 party line vote, committee members deadlocked on the “For the People Act” (S.1). Democrats argue that the bill is necessary given recent actions taken by states such as Georgia, Florida, Iowa, and Arizona to restrict voting. Despite the tie committee vote, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) could still bring the bill to the floor. With Republicans united in their opposition, the big question is whether Democrats would ditch the filibuster in order to ensure passage. A central figure is Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who has said that the bill goes too far and is opposed to getting rid of the filibuster. As an alternative, he is promoting a narrower bill, named for the late Rep. John Lewis, that would restore parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Leaders of the House Homeland Security Committee reached an agreement to establish a bipartisan commission to study the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Committee chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and ranking member John Katko (R-NY) announced the proposal, which is modeled after the 9/11 commission. Under the deal, the panel would investigate the "facts and circumstances of the January 6th attack on the Capitol as well as the influencing factors that may have provoked the attack on our democracy." House minority leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said that he was not yet on board with the deal. A vote on the bill setting up the panel is expected this week, along with a bill calling for $1.9 billion in emergency funding to bolster security at the Capitol.
Washington Watch is published weekly when Congress is in session. Published monthly during extended recess or adjournment.
Spotlight on Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico coronavirus statistics for May 17
According to the Puerto Rico Health Department, 260,566 people are believed to have been infected with COVID-19, an increase of 4,100 since May 10. This points to a continuing decrease in the rate of new cases, as the increase between May 3 and May 10 was 6,036. The death toll is currently 2,438, with 64 of those registered in the last week. Comparatively, 59 people died from the virus between May 3 and May 10.
Beginning on November 7, the Health Department changed the way it recorded cases, splitting them between confirmed cases (as determined by molecular diagnostic testing), probable cases (as determined by antigen testing) and suspicious cases (as determined by serological, non-diagnostic testing). Viewed through that prism, Puerto Rico has had 120,725 confirmed cases, 16,238 probable cases, and 123,603 suspicious cases since the virus arrived on the Island.
There are currently 205 people hospitalized due to COVID, a decrease of 100 since last week.
As vaccinations continue, attempts to inoculate younger populations have begun. Since the approval of the Pfizer vaccine for people as young as 12, at least 4,290 people 12 to 15 years of age have received one dose of the vaccine—a population representing 2.8% of the 152,410 people of that age estimated to live in Puerto Rico.
According to the Puerto Rico Health Department and its Puerto Rico Electric Immunization System (PREIS) a total of 1,024,298 people on the Island have been fully vaccinated, while another 1,292,223 have received at least one dose. According to the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust, this represents 47% of the population 16 or older.
FOMB moves forward with LUMA contract
Earlier in May, the Puerto Rico Legislature, in its attempts to delay the implementation of the contract with LUMA Energy to hand over management of the Puerto Rico power grid, declared that that the House of Representatives would not approve any joint resolution allowing LUMA Energy to begin operations unless elements of the contract were amended.
Proposed amendments included, among other things, the elimination of language allowing LUMA to abandon Puerto Rico in case of a force majeure event and a cap of 20 cents per kilowatt/hour on the amount that can be charged for energy. If the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) did not agree to these changes to the contract, House leadership pledged that the legislature would block the assignment of $750 million needed to fund the execution of the existing contract.
On Wednesday, May 12, with no agreements reached on amendments to the contract, the Puerto Rico House of Representatives voted against the $750 million. The Board subsequently exercised its power to move forward and amended Puerto Rico’s budget to assign the funds. Natalie Jaresko, the Board’s executive director, argued that doing so was necessary to guarantee that problems like those faced after Hurricane Maria would not occur again.
Hemp farming expands rapidly in Puerto Rico
Less than a year since its authorization, hemp farming and its associated industries have quickly grown in Puerto Rico, with roughly a hundred acres of land now dedicated to growing the crop. Additionally, according to Irving Rodríguez Torres, director of the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture (DA)’s Hemp Licensing and Inspection Office, 98 farming licenses have been awarded to date, along with 21 manufacturing licenses, two seed distribution licenses, two lab licenses, 54 import licenses and 10 investigation licenses. Experts predict that the industry, if fully developed, could bring in up to $200 million per year in gross agricultural income.
“It’s a great business opportunity, because the Island has unique local incentives for registered farmers; land and manufacturing in government property; installations available for rent, and highly qualified farm workers. Besides, Puerto Rico’s location is unique,” Rodríguez Torres told El Nuevo Día. Puerto Rico’s weather allows hemp to be grown year-round and harvested three times per year, instead of one time on the mainland United States.
Caribbean Hemp Farms is currently Puerto Rico’s largest grower of hemp. It was funded by Puerto Rican farmer Raúl Mari Fernández and incorporated in the Island in 2019.
View From The White House
President Biden revoked a Trump administration proclamation issued in 2019 that required immigrants to show proof within 30 days of arrival within the country that they had U.S. health insurance or could cover their medical costs.
The General Services Administration (GSA) turned over a slew of documents requested by House Democrats related to the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., including lease agreements, audits and financial statements.
The Treasury Department announced Monday that 39 million households, covering 88 percent of children in the U.S., would receive enhanced monthly child tax credits of up to $300 beginning on July 15.
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