CNE – Centro Para Una Nueva Economía – Center for a New Economy
Non-profit, economic research and policy development organization
Great uncertainty lies ahead for the 50 million Americans that have relied on emergency unemployment compensation to meet basic needs after unexpectedly losing their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the extra unemployment assistance is scheduled to end by July 31.
Four years after the enactment of PROMESA, Puerto Rico still faces massive debt and economic challenges – now, further exacerbated by the 2017 hurricanes, the series of earthquakes that have rattled the island since December 2019, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. Early on, the Center for a New Economy (CNE) warned the measures being considered by Congress would not address the underlying issues affecting the island.
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Two recent court rulings have found this categorical exclusion of the residents of Puerto Rico and Guam to be unconstitutional. We take a closer look at the impact the SSI program could have for Puerto Ricoās residents and the potential economic benefits associated with it.
Rosanna Torres explica las medidas que el Congreso de EE. UU. debe tomar para apoyar a Puerto Rico durante la pandemia del COVID-19.
In a world where it seems there is only bad news, Iād like to share some good news that recently came out of the U.S. Court of Appeals for theĀ First Circuit regarding the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program and its extension to the residents of Puerto Rico.
Letter to Congressional Leadership Regarding COVID-19 in Puerto Rico
As soon as the third federal coronavirus response package was signed into law, the clock started ticking for small businesses already overwhelmed by business-altering decisions. Business owners, sole proprietors and leaders of nonprofit organizations rushed to ensure their organizations would not be left out of any available help.Ā But, as it turns out now, the scale tipped towards those with most leverage and influence on the Hill.
In the past couple of days, Ā the federal government has taken several steps to respond to the worsening COVID-19 crisis. Among the most notable are: 1) extending social distancing guidelines through the end of April, 2) conferring the power of the Defense Production Act to increase the supply of health supplies, and 3) passing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and theĀ Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.Ā Ā Read on for relevant notes of each.
