New Act Mandates Audit of Puerto Rico Disaster Data: Feds Get 90 Days to Explain How Recovery Funds Were Allocated

The Data Improvement for Puerto Rico Recovery Act is essentially a massive, mandatory audit of how federal agencies managed billions in disaster recovery money flowing to Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Fiona, the 2020 earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The core of this bill requires the Comptroller General (the head of the Government Accountability Office, or GAO) to conduct a comprehensive study and report back to Congress within one year. This report must detail exactly what data was used—or, more importantly, what data was missing—when allocating these grants, aiming to fix systemic issues for the future.

The Data Detective Work

This isn't just a simple accounting review; it’s a deep dive into the statistical plumbing of disaster funding. The Comptroller General must list every single grant given out by agencies like FEMA, HUD, and the SBA, noting the dollar amount and the specific disaster it addressed. More critically, the report has to assess the statistical tools and data agencies used at every stage, from announcing the funding opportunity to reviewing applications and setting the rules. Think of it as asking, "Did the data used to decide who got money actually reflect the reality on the ground?"

Why Data Gaps Matter to Everyone

For the average person in Puerto Rico—whether they were waiting for housing assistance, small business loans, or infrastructure repairs—data gaps translate directly into delays and unfair outcomes. The bill specifically requires the report to evaluate the "critical data gaps" agencies faced, such as insufficient coverage, unfair differences in existing data, or unreliable information. Crucially, the Comptroller General must explain how these missing pieces of data "actually hurt the process" of allocating and managing grants. If a federal agency couldn't accurately assess the damage to a specific region because the census data was outdated or non-existent, the funding that followed likely missed the mark, slowing down recovery for neighborhoods that needed it most.

Fixing the Federal Blind Spots

One of the most valuable parts of this bill is its focus on improving future grant distribution. The report must identify any existing federal data sets or tools that currently exclude Puerto Rico but could be useful for managing grants. For instance, if a national economic indicator used to justify grant amounts overlooks Puerto Rico entirely, the agencies involved must suggest ways to include the territory in those products. This is key because better data leads to better decisions, which means faster, more equitable recovery next time disaster strikes. It’s about making sure the federal government isn’t flying blind when it comes to allocating aid.

The 90-Day Clock for Bureaucrats

To ensure the study moves quickly, the bill sets a clear deadline for federal cooperation. If the Comptroller General asks any federal official for information needed for this report, that official must provide a complete answer within 90 days. This puts the administrative burden squarely on the agencies involved (a long list including the EPA, HUD, SBA, and Army Corps of Engineers) to pull together years of detailed grant data under a tight deadline. While this is great for accountability, it’s worth noting that the bill doesn't specify any penalties if an agency blows past that 90-day mark, leaving the enforcement mechanism somewhat vague. Still, this mandate ensures that the agencies can’t simply drag their feet when Congress comes asking for the receipts on disaster spending.