The House on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a rescue package for debt-stricken Puerto Rico, clearing a major hurdle in the ongoing effort to bring relief to the U.S. territory of 3.5 million Americans.
The strong bipartisan vote was 297-127 for the legislation that would create a financial control board and allow restructuring of some of Puerto Rico’s $70 billion debt. The measure now heads to the Senate, just three weeks before the territory must make a $2 billion payment.
In a rare display of political unity, the bill had the support of President Barack Obama, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
“The Puerto Rican people are our fellow Americans. They pay our taxes, they fight in ou…
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