Para enmendar la Sección 3 de la R. del S. 264, que ordena a la Comisión de Turismo, Recursos Naturales y Ambientales del Senado de Puerto Rico a realizar una investigación exhaustiva en torno a la asignación de 36.3 millones de dólares de la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA) al Municipio de Arecibo para la construcción de dos rompeolas en la zona costera de la Avenida Atlántico, evaluar el estado de ejecución del proyecto y las gestiones municipales para asegurar la utilización efectiva de los recursos antes de su fecha de expiración; y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

The bill authorizes a Senate committee review of the $36.3 million FEMA-funded Arecibo breakwaters project to ensure proper use, milestones, and adherence to timelines.

Radicado

Summary of Bill RS 563 (Session 2025-2028, Puerto Rico)

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to amend Section 3 of R.S. 264. Its focus is to authorize and direct the Senate’s Committee on Tourism, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs to conduct a thorough review of a FEMA-supported project in Arecibo.

Specifically, it targets the allocation of $36.3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the Municipality of Arecibo for the construction of two breakwaters on the coast along Avenida Atlántico.

The overarching aim is to ensure proper execution, effective use of funds, and compliance with the project timeline before the funds expire, along with related purposes.

Key provisions and changes

Amendment of Section 3 of R.S. 264 to authorize the Senate committee to:

Conduct an exhaustive investigation into the FEMA-funded project in Arecibo.
Assess the status of project implementation, including progress, milestones, and current completion stage.
Review municipal actions and governance related to the project to ensure proper management and accountability.
Evaluate whether the $36.3 million allocation is being used efficiently and in accordance with FEMA requirements and timelines.
Investigate any potential issues that could affect the timely use of funds before their expiration date.

The bill frames these activities as part of a broader set of related objectives (otros fines relacionados), which may include policy, oversight, and compliance considerations tied to coastal infrastructure and disaster recovery funding.

Who or what would be affected

The primary focus is the Municipality of Arecibo, which received the FEMA funds for the breakwaters.

The Senate Committee on Tourism, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs would be responsible for conducting the investigation and oversight.

Additional potential stakeholders may include:

Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs (or equivalent agencies involved in coastal management and infrastructure.
FEMA and related federal oversight entities (insofar as the audit and review interact with federal program requirements).
Local residents and businesses affected by the Avenida Atlántico project, particularly those impacted by coastal infrastructure changes or permitting.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Radicado (filed) as of 2026-06-30.

The bill directs an oversight process regarding an existing FEMA-funded project and sets expectations for the execution status and management prior to the expiration of the federal funds.

The specific deadlines or expiration dates for the funds are not stated in the summary, but the bill emphasizes timely analysis before any expiration, implying attention to funding timelines and project milestones.

Potential impact and considerations

Strengthens legislative oversight of a significant disaster-recovery infrastructure project, aiming to improve transparency, accountability, and efficient use of federal dollars.

Could influence project management practices at the municipal level and potentially inform future approvals or corrective actions if deficiencies are found.

May result in public reporting or recommendations shaping ongoing fiscal stewardship of FEMA funds in coastal infrastructure initiatives.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to specific audiences (e.g., policymakers, residents of Arecibo, or fiscal analysts) or add a brief comparison to similar oversight bills.