Jenniffer Gonzalez Federal Allocation for the Beginning of the Construction of the Caño Martín Peña

Statement

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today released the list of projects it will provide funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, known as BIF, and of the 2022 Supplemental Disaster Aid Appropriations Act, where five projects in Puerto Rico will receive funding for a federal investment of $250.7 million.

"Good news! USACE has just allocated $163 million to begin the construction phase on the Caño, which includes dredging. This has been a priority on my agenda in Congress and I am pleased to share this achievement with all the residents of the Caño," said the resident commissioner, who since her arrival in Congress has defended and led legislative efforts for the construction of the Caño.

For its part, the Port of San Juan Navigation Channels project, which will increase its movement capacity and ensure its operation and future use as strategic infrastructure, will receive a federal allocation of $45.5 million.

In the same work plan, the Corps of Engineers includes the Culebrinas River project, $26 million for the construction phase; the Río Manatí project in Ciales, $14 million, and for the Yabucoa feasibility and needs study phase, $650 thousand were set aside.

Following the approval of the BIF law, the resident commissioner sent a letter in which she asked the USACE for priority to finance the construction stage of the Caño, since the federal entity received over $17 billion in budget for works around the nation.

In 2020, the commissioner achieved a key piece to prevent the construction of the Caño from stalling by increasing the total maximum authorized for the Caño from $150 million to $255,816,000, increasing the budget capacity authorized for the project. This was included in the bipartisan Water Resources Development Bill (WRDA), in whose drafting the commissioner participated as part of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

In that same project, González Colón included language to give expeditious attention to flood control projects, including those of Culebrinas and the Río Grande de Manatí in Ciales.

"This achievement is the sum of continuous efforts, communication with USACE and the state component, as well as with Proyecto Enlace, which have been waiting and working with my office for so long so that this work is completed," added the commissioner.

"Before taking the oath in 2016, I made a commitment with the G8 to seek the funds to start the restoration project. Since then we have worked through legislation, advocating before federal agencies like OMB and USACE and gaining supporters. I thank my congressional colleagues from both parties for having joined these efforts and today I can celebrate the fact that the funds were finally allocated for the start of the construction of the pipe," concluded the commissioner.

Source