PRFAA announces bipartisan infrastructure funding agreement.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) announced a bipartisan agreement on Monday related to infrastructure funding.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and ranking minority member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) agreed to advance legislation to fund various infrastructure programs nationwide for five years. The programs include roads, bridges, public transportation, rail, and road safety.

The Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th Act (BUILD America 250) primarily increases federal funding to Puerto Rico’s highway program by $95 million, allocating a total of $995 million for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. In addition, the act includes HR 919, authored by the governor, which specifically authorizes Puerto Rico to issue commercial driver’s licenses valid throughout the United States.

The new bill also funds the development and improvement of bridges. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, Puerto Rico received $225 million for those purposes.

The committee plans to approve the legislation Thursday and aims for a full legislature vote soon. The law must be signed before IIJA’s authorization expires Sept. 30, 2026.

“To prepare the BUILD America 250 Act, the committee requested recommendations from various sectors early in this Congress. That is why, through a letter from the governor dated April 28, 2025, we formally informed the committee of our priorities,” PRFAA Executive Director Gabriella Boffelli said. “At PRFAA, we have maintained constant communication regarding the reauthorization of this legislation. This ensured the continuity of those priorities for Puerto Rico. The inclusion of language to issue commercial driver’s licenses is a significant achievement. We also secured additional funding to improve infrastructure across the island. …”