Memorandum for the Letter to the President on the Purported Transfer to the Government of Puerto Rico of the PRA Properties

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT ON THE PURPORTED TRANSFER TO THE GOVERNMENT OF PUERTO RICO OF THE PRA PROPERTIES The Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration is a Federal Agency created by Congress for the primary purpose of alleviating the unemploy- ment situation which prevailed in Puerto Rico for many years. From the hearings which the Sub-committee of the Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs of the Senate held in the Island and Wash- ington during 1942 and 1943 the following pertinent facts appear: 1. - The Federal Government allocated to the PRA prior to 1937 a special fund of $42,931,300 Less amount rescinded for: Public Works Administration Housing, and Federal Emergency Relief Admini- stration 6,814,460 Net Authorizations 36,116,840 Further allocations in the Emergency Relief Appropriations Acts for the Fiscal Years 1937 to 1941. 34,000,000 Puerto Rico Revolving Fund allocations for Fiscal Years 1940 to 1943 3,152,360 Grand total 73,269,200 2.- - The properties owned and controlled today by the PRA are worth upwards of $22,000,000. 3.- By Executive Order No. 8888, dated September 3, 1941, the Director of the Division of RECORDS SERVICE Territories and Island Possessions of the De- partment of Interior, was appointed Administrator, vice Admiral William D. Leahy. There is an