Bill Overview
Title: Community Driven Recovery for Puerto Rico Act
Description: This bill establishes an Office for Equitable, Transparent, and Accountable Puerto Rico Reconstruction which shall be headed by a Puerto Rico Civil Society Task Force. The task force shall be an independent federal entity established to ensure accountability of and local oversight over reconstruction efforts in Puerto Rico. The office shall be funded by the administrative portion of the estimated Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery disbursements for Puerto Rico.
Sponsors: Rep. Garcia, Jesus G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
Target Audience
Population: People in Puerto Rico affected by the Community Driven Recovery for Puerto Rico Act
Estimated Size: 3200000
- Puerto Rico, as an unincorporated territory of the United States, is inhabited by approximately 3.2 million people.
- Efforts for reconstruction and recovery following natural disasters will impact the entire island's population, as they are aimed at improving infrastructure, housing, and public services.
- The bill establishes an Office for Equitable, Transparent, and Accountable Puerto Rico Reconstruction, directly affecting those involved in or dependent on these reconstruction efforts.
Reasoning
- The policy is mainly targeted at residents of Puerto Rico, where it aims to manage and expedite reconstruction efforts following natural disasters. However, it also involves collaboration with entities across the United States. Puerto Rican residents, who are U.S. citizens, might experience direct benefits in terms of improved infrastructure, housing, and public services.
- Not all individuals in the U.S. will perceive or experience a direct impact from the policy. It will most notably affect people either living in Puerto Rico or directly involved in federal or non-governmental positions connected to reconstruction efforts.
- Wellbeing improvements are more likely and significant among those engaged directly in or residing in Puerto Rico, while indirect effects may be perceived among professionals involved in oversight or support roles.
Simulated Interviews
NGO Worker (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a step forward in ensuring that reconstruction efforts are undertaken with proper accountability and input from the community.
- I hope it leads to faster and better-planned reconstruction efforts, as we've faced bottlenecks before.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Federal Government Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial to have a task force that ensures the reconstruction funds are used effectively.
- I think the policy will provide the much-needed oversight to achieve that.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although I'm not directly affected, better-managed reconstruction could lead to more business opportunities.
- It's also good to know our work contributes to a meaningful cause.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Puerto Rican Cultural Advocacy Leader (New York, New York)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that the new office will respect cultural inputs and foster transparency.
- This could improve trust in the system among Puerto Ricans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Retired Teacher (Ponce, Puerto Rico)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our community needs this oversight to finally see the promised improvements realized.
- It's been hard to trust reconstruction processes - I hope this changes things.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Construction Industry Consultant (Orlando, Florida)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Effective implementation of this policy could create more jobs and stabilize construction efforts.
- It might lead to better standards for construction - critical in disaster-prone areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Policy Analyst for Urban Development (Houston, Texas)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This task force is a model for other disaster-stricken areas needing transparent management.
- Effective oversight could lead to more sustainable urban development.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Disaster Recovery Specialist (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial for disaster recovery efforts to have local accountability and input.
- I expect positive collaborations to improve resource distribution.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Public Policy Researcher (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the transparency and community-driven focus of this policy.
- Long term, I foresee the potential for best practices that can be applied elsewhere.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired Military Personnel (Miami, Florida)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better oversight and management will improve what I see on the ground.
- Relief operations can become more efficient and impactful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Sources of funding are rooted in federal disaster recovery allocations, limiting direct budgetary implications.
- Local oversight might improve credibility and project execution quality on the island.
- Appointment and efficacy of the oversight body are crucial for the intended impact.