Why does Congress’s budget reconciliation bill matter for Puerto Rico’s health, economy and push for statehood? In this episode of the Mano a Mano Podcast, hosts George Laws Garcia and Martín Rivera of the Puerto Rico Statehood Council unpack how the 2025 reconciliation package could reshape Medicaid and nutritional assistance and other federal funding amid the expected nationwide federal funding cuts. They also discuss proposed tax incentives to increase local manufacturing, recent remarks from Puerto Rico’s Governor and Resident Commissioner on territorial status, Congressman Pablo José Hernández’s reluctance to recognize island voters’ desire for statehood (and his party-refounding plans), the truth about the Jones Act’s impact on shipping costs and food security, and why the Trump Administration might want to speak up about Puerto Rico’s path to statehood.
In this episode:
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction & Episode Overview
00:45 Budget Reconciliation Basics for Puerto Rico
04:10 Impact on Healthcare & Nutrition Programs
07:50 Tax Incentives & Manufacturing Proposals
12:15 Political Status Debate: Governor & Resident Commissioner
16:30 Congressman Hernández & Party Refoundation
23:53 Mailbag: Listener Questions Answered
24:19 What is the Jones Act’s impact on Puerto Rico?
30:03 Trump Administration’s Statehood Signals
28:50 Personal Reflections & Next Steps
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