Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, Pablo José Hernández, announced on March 16 that he is co-sponsoring the Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2026. The legislation would invest more than $130 billion to improve the physical and digital infrastructure of public schools, with funds primarily directed to high-poverty schools facing health and safety risks for students.
The proposed bill, introduced by Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia, aims to provide significant federal funding for repairing, rebuilding, and modernizing school facilities. Planned improvements include upgrades in ventilation systems, access to potable water, energy efficiency measures, and resilience against natural disasters. Puerto Rico would be among the jurisdictions eligible for these funds.
“We have to focus on important and urgent issues. Too many students in Puerto Rico are still waiting for their schools to be rebuilt years after Hurricane Maria. We cannot allow an entire generation to continue studying in temporary or inadequate facilities. This legislation seeks to ensure the investment our schools urgently need,” Hernández said.
According to news reports, more than 34,000 students in Puerto Rico are still attending classes outside their original school buildings because they were damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 and have not yet been reconstructed. Nearly $2.1 billion in federal recovery funds have been obligated for Puerto Rico’s Department of Education; however, reconstruction has not started at many sites, forcing students and teachers into temporary or shared spaces.
The Rebuild America’s Schools Act proposes $100 billion in grants and $30 billion in bond authority mainly targeted at high-poverty schools with facilities posing health and safety risks for students and staff. The legislation could also create over two million jobs based on an Economic Policy Institute analysis estimating that every billion dollars invested in construction generates about 17,785 jobs.
The bill would require states—including Puerto Rico—to develop public databases on the condition of school facilities. Currently, most states and Puerto Rico do not maintain such records. This measure is intended to help identify infrastructure needs and improve planning for future investments. The proposal also includes provisions to strengthen digital infrastructure in public schools by improving broadband access and Wi-Fi connectivity.
