House pushes shaky Puerto Rico rescue plan

By Susan Ferrechio, Susan Ferrechio

Published April 09, 2016

The House is finally expected to hold a hearing and a vote next week on legislation to address the debt crisis in Puerto Rico, but opposition from both parties means it won't be easy to advance the plan to help the struggling U.S. territory.

Lawmakers unveiled a bipartisan "discussion draft" late last month that has already drawn criticism from House conservatives and only tepid approval from Democrats, who say the plan has "significant problems." The first draft required immediate changes in order to avoid possible legal challenges, further delaying consideration of a bill that House Speaker Paul Ryan promised would be ready for considering by the end of March.

An updated draft measure is expected by Monday, ahead of a planned Wednesday hearing in the House Resources Committee, which claims jurisdiction over the matter.

"Efforts to refine the committee's discussion draft continue," said House Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop, R-Utah. "All parties are working in good faith as we finalize responsible legislation that helps solve the crisis and protects American taxpayers."