Wittman Statement Following Natural Resources Hearing on Puerto Rico

Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement today after the Natural Resource Committee's Hearing on a Discussion Draft of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA):

"Years of poor fiscal decision-making and mismanagement have led Puerto Rico into more than $118 billion in total debt," Wittman said, "and while I'm sympathetic to the territory's economic woes, I believe that this is not the proper course of action for Congress to take. Puerto Rico has already sought a judicial remedy through the legal system, and Congressional intervention at this point would serve to alter the rule of law. Rather than encouraging the organic, substantive reforms Puerto-Rico needs for long-term success, PROMESA would serve as a temporary stop-gap that would reward mismanagement and encourage further recklessness. I cannot support this bill."