United States Territorial Relief Act of 2019 This bill establishes a process under which Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories may terminate certain debts if they meet eligibility criteria. The bill allows territories to terminate their public, unsecured debt if they meet two of three criteria: the population of the territory has decreased by more than 5% over 10 years, the territory received major federal disaster assistance, or the territory's per capita debt exceeds $15,000. If Puerto Rico discharges its debt under this process, the bill provides funding that a special master must allocate to certain creditors whose debts were discharged. The bill also establishes a Puerto Rico Public Credit Comprehensive Audit Commission.
Accounting and auditingAppropriationsBank accounts, deposits, capitalBankruptcyBudget deficits and national debtCaribbean areaCivil actions and liabilityDisaster relief and insuranceEmployee benefits and pensionsExecutive agency funding and structureFederal district courtsGovernment liabilityGovernment studies and investigationsGovernment trust fundsJudicial review and appealsJurisdiction and venuePuerto RicoSecuritiesState and local financeU.S. territories and protectorates
United States Territorial Relief Act of 2019
USA116th CongressS-1312| Senate
| Updated: 5/2/2019
United States Territorial Relief Act of 2019 This bill establishes a process under which Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories may terminate certain debts if they meet eligibility criteria. The bill allows territories to terminate their public, unsecured debt if they meet two of three criteria: the population of the territory has decreased by more than 5% over 10 years, the territory received major federal disaster assistance, or the territory's per capita debt exceeds $15,000. If Puerto Rico discharges its debt under this process, the bill provides funding that a special master must allocate to certain creditors whose debts were discharged. The bill also establishes a Puerto Rico Public Credit Comprehensive Audit Commission.
Accounting and auditingAppropriationsBank accounts, deposits, capitalBankruptcyBudget deficits and national debtCaribbean areaCivil actions and liabilityDisaster relief and insuranceEmployee benefits and pensionsExecutive agency funding and structureFederal district courtsGovernment liabilityGovernment studies and investigationsGovernment trust fundsJudicial review and appealsJurisdiction and venuePuerto RicoSecuritiesState and local financeU.S. territories and protectorates