Apr 20, 2020
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| Senator Chuck Grassley |
“It appears that procurement and contracting in Puerto Rico often passes through a filter of political connections before resources intended for the people of Puerto Rico actually reach them and achieve the intended use, depriving the people of Puerto Rico the primacy that they deserve,” Grassley wrote.
Following a tide of concerning reports ranging from unused earthquake aid that languished in warehouses, millions of dollars in expired medicines, and politically directed contracts to favored consultants, Grassley is pressing the territory’s government for information on its response to these issues.
In particular, Grassley raises concern about new contracts for COVID-19 testing going to companies with close ties to a Puerto Rican political party but without any experience in providing medical supplies or products according to a report in El Nuevo Dia. Additionally, the government of Puerto Rico made an advance payment of $20 million for contracts that may now be canceled.
In a letter to the Governor of Puerto Rico, Grassley requests information on a variety of related issues including the recent resignations of health officials, the decision to use contractors with no prior experience in medical supplies for COVID-19 tests, the potential political considerations made in that decision-making process, the lack of notifications to the Financial Management Oversight Board regarding these large purchase orders or contracts and the ‘discovery’ of $3-$4 million worth of medicine expiring under the control of the Puerto Rican health department.
The senator is also seeking information about the findings related to an investigation initiated by the governor of the fired former emergency management director who oversaw the warehousing of earthquake aid, along with any other similar investigations involving government malfeasance.
In a letter to the Governor of Puerto Rico, Grassley requests information on a variety of related issues including the recent resignations of health officials, the decision to use contractors with no prior experience in medical supplies for COVID-19 tests, the potential political considerations made in that decision-making process, the lack of notifications to the Financial Management Oversight Board regarding these large purchase orders or contracts and the ‘discovery’ of $3-$4 million worth of medicine expiring under the control of the Puerto Rican health department.
The senator is also seeking information about the findings related to an investigation initiated by the governor of the fired former emergency management director who oversaw the warehousing of earthquake aid, along with any other similar investigations involving government malfeasance.
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