Puerto Rico came one step closer to debt relief following House Committee on Natural Resources passage of H.R. 5278, a bill designating the island nation with an independent oversight board.

H.R. 5278, also known as the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, endured numerous delays before lawmakers approved it by a 29-10 vote on Wednesday. Some see the PROMESA bill as a burden on taxpayers while other believe it is the last sliver of hope for relieving the $72 billion debt the Puerto Rican people face.

"It's important that we go through regular order to pass PROMESA, our bipartisan legislation that protects American taxpayers," House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., said in a statement. "I commend the members of the National Resource Committee -- on both sides of the aisle -- who worked to responsibility address Puerto Rico's financial crisis and prevent a bailout."

Latino Lawmakers Split

PROMESA was initially introduced in April, but vague language and unrealistic expectation in H.R. 4900 prompted revisions approved Wednesday.

The new measures ensure on-time payments to creditors and that island government officials won't override the seven-member oversight committee's decisions, but Democrats worry about the trickle-down effect on the Puerto Rican people.

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, D-Ill., one of five Puerto Ricans in Congress, said he could not support the bill because it reduced the minimum wage and places exemptions on overtime rules. He opposes an overtly-powerful board which may not have Puerto Rican workers' best intention in mind, if only because their pensions would not be protected.

"It is less a matter of sovereignty and respect for the Island's Government and more about whether the control board creates the conditions where the old, the young, the sick, and the families struggle to raise children are put first among all competing priorities and PROMESA falls short," Gutiérrez wrote in a letter addressed to his colleagues.

Gutiérrez said he understood the debt crisis in a deeply personal way. Coming from a father and grandfather who grew up in the commonwealth, the congressman said "It saddens me that the help the people of my beloved Island need has been laden with policies that rob the people, threaten the homeland, and weaken their ability to determine their own future."

Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., began PROMESA hearings Tuesday evening by stressing some of Gutiérrez's points, except Grijalva stood behind the bill because this is the only the act Congress will seriously consider.

"I wish this bill included a significant federal investment to stimulate the Commonwealth's dying economy, but it does not. Calling this bill a bailout is a lie," Grijalva said. "When measured against a perfect bill, this legislation is inadequate. When measured against the worsening crisis in Puerto Rico, this legislation is necessary."

Rep. Raúl Labrador, R-Idaho, who serves on the Natural Resources panel, was more supporting. Labrador said Ryan did a "great job of making sure that all the concerns that I had about the bill have been addressed."

Rising Debt's Affect on People's Health

Puerto Rico defaulted on its $422 million payment earlier this month. They also have pending $2 billion payment due on July 1, on top of rising health costs associated with Zika virus and influenza outbreaks. Numerous hospitals have closed due to budget cuts, and many that remain open are running low on medical supplies, leaving millions of people -- including 3.5 million U.S. citizens -- susceptible to the life-threatening diseases.

The American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) issued a letter last Friday calling on committee members to alleviate the humanitarian crisis "brought on by more than a decade of recession, excessive debt, and Wall Street demand for austerity."

The letter, written on behalf of eight unions, urged lawmakers restructure the package to protect Puerto Rican workers and their benefits.

"Congress must, however, get back to work immediately to provide real solutions that allow Puerto Rico to negotiate a feasible debt restructuring plan, protects Puerto Rican workers and retirees, and provides an economic stimulus so that the territory may achieve economic growth."