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HR 397

PUERTO RICO-FISCAL AUTONOMY

104th Regular Session Introduced by Lilian Jiménez

Urges Congress to set a definite end date for the PROMESA Fiscal Oversight Board and begin a managed transition to full fiscal autonomy and local self-governance for Puerto Rico.

Referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HR 397

Summary — H.R. 397 (PUERTO RICO — FISCAL AUTONOMY)

Status: Referred to Rules Committee. Introduced: January 14, 2025. Classification: House resolution (non‑binding).

Purpose and intent

H.R. 397 is a House resolution that urges the U.S. Congress to set a definitive end date for the Puerto Rico Financial Oversight and Management Board (created by PROMESA) and to begin a transition to full fiscal autonomy and local democratic governance for Puerto Rico. The resolution frames the Board’s prolonged oversight as undermining Puerto Rican self‑governance, public trust, and long‑term recovery, and calls for Congress to act to restore fiscal self‑determination.

Key findings and statements in the resolution

The resolution’s preamble (WHEREAS clauses) asserts that:
- PROMESA established the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) to restructure Puerto Rico’s public debt and supervise fiscal plans.
- Nearly a decade of Board oversight has raised concerns about erosion of local self‑governance and democratic accountability.
- Austerity measures under Board oversight have, the resolution asserts, contributed to harms including: deep cuts to University of Puerto Rico funding (described as “more than half”), reductions in municipal equalization funds, constrained access to healthcare/education/public services, slow or conditional disbursement of federal disaster funds, and large out‑migration (noted as “more than 600,000” residents).
- Continued indefinite Board operation is presented as an obstacle to full recovery, market confidence, and democratic accountability.

What the resolution would do

  • Urges Congress to:
    • Establish a definitive end date for the Financial Oversight and Management Board; and
    • Ensure a managed transition toward full fiscal autonomy, community‑driven and democratically accountable recovery and governance for Puerto Rico.
  • Directs that copies of the resolution be sent to the President, congressional leaders (majority and minority leaders of both chambers and Speakers), and the Illinois Congressional delegation.

Note: As a House resolution expressing the sense of the House, it is non‑binding and does not by itself change federal law or terminate the Board.

Who is affected / potential impacts

  • Primary subject: Puerto Rico — its government, citizens, and fiscal institutions.
  • Secondary: U.S. Congress and federal agencies involved in Puerto Rico oversight, recovery funding and debt restructuring.
  • Practical effect: The resolution is largely symbolic/political — intended to press Congress to act. It may increase legislative and public pressure for statutory changes to PROMESA or the Board’s authority, but does not by itself alter existing legal authorities or timelines.

Procedural history (selected)

  • Introduced in House: 2025‑01‑14; referred to House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
  • Committee activity/hearings reported: multiple entries (hearings; reported enrolled).
  • House action notes: placed on calendars, adopted in some form on 2025‑03‑13; ordered to be reported by yeas and nays (23–15) on 2025‑04‑30.
  • Filed with Clerk by Rep. Lilian Jiménez: 2025‑05‑28; referred to Rules Committee: 2025‑05‑29.

Note on document inconsistencies

The provided document text appears to conflate several unrelated measures that share the identifier “H.R. 397” or similar numbering in different jurisdictions:
- A brief provision renaming a U.S. Postal Service facility in Rochester, NY as the “Minister Franklin Florence Memorial Post Office.”
- Text from an Illinois House resolution urging action on PROMESA (this is the Puerto Rico‑focused material summarized above).
- Text from a Georgia state House resolution creating a “House Study Committee on Healthcare Quality and Reporting” (committee composition, duties, funding rules, and abolishment date of Dec 1, 2025).

These additional items (post office naming and Georgia committee language) are unrelated to the Puerto Rico fiscal autonomy resolution and appear to be included due to document aggregation. The core H.R. 397 described at the top concerns urging Congress to set an end date for the PROMESA oversight board.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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