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:

• What healthcare and nutrition funding changes are on the table?
• Which tax incentives could attract new manufacturers?
• Why are Puerto Rico’s top elected leaders saying about political status?
• What is the debate on the Jones Act’s impact on Puerto Rico?

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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#PuertoRico #BudgetReconciliation #JonesAct #HealthcareReform #Statehood #ManoAManoPodcast

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