Jenniffer González is once again promoting loans for dependent children and earned income

Washington dc – Washington-based commissioner Jenniffer González today revived projects that seek to get the federal government to fully fund Puerto Rico’s dependent child support (CTC) and accrued income (EITC) credits, which were halted last year. by the Federal Senate.

Both projects – which will have to be referred to the Media and Arbitration Committee chaired by Democrat Richard Neal (Massachusetts) – were co-sponsored by Puerto Rican Democratic Congressman Darren Soto (Florida).

In 2020, the lower house approved these measures in two comprehensive projects: first, one aimed at mitigating the damage caused by earthquakes in Puerto Rico; and then as part of the first legislation “Heroes”, last May, to address the emergence of the coronavirus.

Both measures, however, were ruled out by the Republican Senate majority.

Commissioner González has indicated that the first project extends fully to Puerto Rico the CTC, which at the moment only benefits families with three or more dependent children on the island. Through the CTC, these families on the island can apply for a federal government refund of up to $ 2,000 per dependent child.

Commissioner González estimates that the full validity of the CTC in Puerto Rico would benefit 355,000 families and 404,000 children.

As for the EITC, which seeks to encourage work, Commissioner González estimated that the measure would allow an annual credit of between $ 300 and $ 8,500 to be granted to the island, in addition to the existing benefits to through Puerto Rican law.

It is estimated that the EITC and CTC together could have an annual impact of $ 1.4 billion in Puerto Rico.

Commissioner González announced the presentation of the projects after swearing in her place on Sunday night, for a new four-year term.

“Studies have shown that getting people out of poverty is precisely one of the catalysts to move the economy,” said the commissioner, who is caucusing the Republican minority.

In the Senate, Democrat Robert Menéndez (New Jersey) and Republican Marco Rubio (Florida) introduced a bill in 2020 to fully fund the CTC on the island.

After her swearing-in on Sunday, at the inaugural session of Congress 117, Commissioner Gonzalez expressed that she will also push for an increase in food assistance, an issue that has been supported by President-elect Joe Biden.

He also reaffirmed his intention to promote the United States to offer him the statehood on the Island, after the Creole plebiscite on November 3 in which this alternative obtained 52.5%. of the votes.

The governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia has indicated that the commissioner to present / display in this session a project in favor of which the Congress offers the estadidad to the Island.

“I am confident that in the next 4 years we will be able to strengthen ties to achieve full equality for all Puerto Ricans. I will work again bipartisan to advance health, manufacturing and economic development for Puerto Rico,” she said. resident.