Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to reject attempts by the United Nations Special Committee for Decolonization calling for the independence of Puerto Rico.

It is no surprise that Cuba, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, and Venezuela, who are among the worst human rights violators and antidemocratic regimes in the world are the ones calling for Puerto Rico's independence in an attempt to advance their anti-American agenda and grow their influence in the region.

For 106 years, Puerto Ricans have been proud American citizens, participating in the U.S. Armed Forces in

record numbers. As a U.S. territory and under the U.S. Constitution, it is Congress, not the United Nations, and certainly not a committee made up of authoritarian regimes that has the ultimate responsibility to address Puerto Rico's political status.

Puerto Ricans have made it very clear through votes and democratic elections--something these nations will never learn--we want to join our fellow Americans on equal footing as a full State of the Union.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the crew of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle (WPC 1133), on its 4th year of commissioned service in Puerto Rico.

Commissioned in a patriotic ceremony on June 8, 2019, in San Juan Puerto Rico, Cutter Joseph Doyle is the 33rd Fast Response cutter in the USCG's fleet and joined a fleet of seven fast response cutters under the operational control of U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan, Puerto Rico. Immediately it began to conduct Coast Guard missions including Counter-Drug, Alien-Migrant Interdiction Operations, and Search and Rescue throughout a 1.2 million square mile area of responsibility spanning Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and much of the Eastern Caribbean.

Cutter WPC 1133 is named after Joseph O. Doyle who started serving as the Keeper of the Charlotte, New York Life Saving Station, in 1878, and became one of the most admired and courageous keepers of the United States Lifesaving Service recognized by awarding him the Gold Life Saving Medal. Inspired by his example and guided by the ship's motto ``Courage Dans La Tempete'' or ``Courage in the Storm'' the crew of the cutter Joseph Doyle endeavors to ensure that local and federal laws are upheld on the high seas and all

waters over which the United States has jurisdiction.

From June 2021 to July 2023, Lieutenant Commander Charles ``Chuck'' Wilson served as the Commanding Officer of USCGC Joseph Doyle. Under the leadership of LCDR Wilson, his crew executed six search and rescue cases resulting in four lives saved, interdicted six narcotics smuggling ventures, 431 illegal migrants, 22 traffickers and seized or disrupted 2,000 kilograms of cocaine and 1,500 lbs. of marijuana worth a combined street value of $75 million. Notably, Doyle rescued 27 migrants from the cliffs of Isla Monito, a small island West of Puerto Rico, after a human smuggler stranded them.

The Doyle's commitment to serve the Nation extended beyond law enforcement by engaging in bolstering International Engagements and Partnerships, by conducting training exercises with foreign naval and law enforcement forces that allowed them to execute surface warfare formations, mock boarding, Law Enforcement exchange to stop dangerous human smuggling and narcotics trafficking ventures at sea. The commitment to serve the Doyle's crew extended to conducting Service Outreach and Recruitment events, which provided excellent support to the Commandant's mission to recruit Coast Guard men and women who represent the diverse communities in the United States Coast Guard.

Please join me in honoring the crew of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle (WPC 1133), on its 4th year of commissioned service in Puerto Rico, and commend them for their contributions to our Nation, deserving of national and congressional recognition.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the American Legion Department of Puerto Rico as it commemorates its 100th Anniversary.

Established on September 19, 1923, the American Legion Department of Puerto Rico was born in a time of great economic, political, and social transformation. This organization had its genesis in the seed of military service of Puerto Ricans in the armed forces of our great Nation that was planted on March 28, 1899. On that day, eight Puerto Ricans from the town of Lares were the first to enter the United States Army in the detachment of Puerto Rican Volunteers that eventually became the 65th Infantry Regiment, our beloved Borinqueneers. Their oath of military service was the precursor of a long chain of Puerto Ricans who followed in their footsteps serving in our Nation's armed forces.

That seed grew and the strong tree of military service that took root gave its first flowering in 1917 when 60,000 Puerto Ricans responded to the Nation's call during World War I. From them, aroused the veterans that founded the American Legion Department of Puerto Rico.

Those World War I veterans and Legionnaires, took the task of ensuring that the Veterans of World War II, and subsequent conflicts, had upon their reintegration into the society the maximum support of a grateful Nation. Against all odds, the American Legion Department of Puerto Rico assumed the role of leading many fights in favor of veterans at the national and state level.

They promoted the creation of the Veterans Hospital which, today is the Veteran Administration Caribbean Health Care System. They laid the foundations to create the Puerto Rico's Veteran's Bill of Rights and did not give up in their effort to include the Puerto Rican Veteran in all the programs and benefits that were granted to their peers in the states.

The post World War II transformation that our Nation faced transformed the American Legion in Puerto Rico, not only due to the increase in veterans who returned and entered their posts, but also due to the entry of women legionaries into the organization.

On April 1945, once discharged from military service in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, soldiers Priscila Colon and Aida Martinez Rellova became the first female veterans to join the American Legion Post Number 1 in San Juan. Vega Alta Post Number 52 elected veteran Dolores Vazquez as their commander in May 1952. They and many other female Legionnaires laid the foundations that enabled the American Legion, Department of Puerto Rico to have veteran Carmen I. Rosario Diaz as its first female Commander.

The torch of veterans' rights has never failed to shine in Puerto Rico thanks to the willingness of veterans of the Korean, Vietnam, Persian Gulf and many other conflicts who assumed the responsibility of leading the American Legion Department of Puerto Rico and relentlessly advocated for veterans.

As new generations of Legionaries rise to lead the American Legion Department of Puerto Rico, I encourage them to draw inspiration from the last 100 years of selfless service by the American Legion Department of Puerto Rico.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate my constituents, Mrs.

Carmen Ana Fournier Figueroa and Dr. Felix Rafael Vega Sala on their 60th wedding anniversary.

Carmen Ana and Felix Vega met in 1959 when they were 15 and 17 years old. She was born in Bayamon and he was born in Hatillo, Puerto Rico. Within a few years of meeting one another, they married in 1963 and moved to Seville, Spain, where Felix continued his medical education with the help and support of his devoted wife Carmen Ana. After four years in Spain, they returned to Puerto Rico where Felix completed his medical degree and obtained his license as a psychiatrist.

In 1982, the family traveled again to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where Dr. Vega served as a lead psychiatrist for the Cuban refugees who had fled oppression in the Mariel boatlift. In 1984, the family moved back to Puerto Rico, and Dr. Vega continued his long-standing professional career with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the San Juan Regional Office. After 28 years, Dr. Vega retired as a distinguished medical professional for the VA in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Their devotion and love for one another has been witnessed by many and, has embodied one of the most important vows in marriage; ``in sickness and in health.'' When Carmen Ana was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, it was not only her faith, bravery, and courageous attitude that got her through this life-threatening disease, but it was the loving care of her husband, and support of her doctors, friends, and family, that helped her defeat this devasting disease.

Dr. Felix Vega and Carmen Ana have two children, Felix, and Carmen, as well as four young grandchildren, Fabiana, Carlos Enrique, Felix Sebastian and Carmen Sofia. The entire family lives happily in Puerto Rico.

Please join me in giving Carmen Ana and Felix warmhearted congratulations on their 60th wedding anniversary. I commend them and wish them many more happy years together.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize our men and women in law enforcement and their commitment to public safety.

I especially recognize and thank our Federal law enforcement officers on the island and the almost 12,000 members of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, as well as all municipal police officers across the island of Puerto Rico.

Their courage, dedication, and tireless efforts to serve and protect our communities are truly admirable and do not go unnoticed.

I also honor the memory of all law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. We will never forget, and we are in debt to their sacrifice and that of their families.

As we commemorate National Police Week, I am committed to continue working with my colleagues to ensure Congress is providing our law enforcement officers the necessary support and resources, including through grant programs such as the COPS hiring program, Operation Stonegarden, and the Byrne Justice Assistance Program.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize 21 veterans from my District who from April 12th to April 14th visited our Nation's Capital as part of the inaugural Lone Eagle Honor Flight from Puerto Rico.

The Lone Eagle Honor Flight honors American veterans all over the Nation for their courage, and outstanding achievements in defense of the ideals of the United States of America by transporting them to Washington, D.C. to visit the veterans memorials, paying tribute to bold servicemen and women who have served our Nation. This recognition is well-deserved and a testament of our gratitude for their sacrifices.

This inaugural Lone Eagle Honor Flight from Puerto Rico is special, because on April 13th we celebrate National Borinqueneers Day and honor the bravery and valor of the 65th Infantry Regiment, better known as Borinqueneers. This unit composed of Puerto Rican soldiers, led by their motto of Honor and Fidelity, served throughout the liberation of Europe in World War II and the Korean War. The history of Puerto Rico is rich with the example of individuals whose accomplishments inspire us today. They are men and women from all walks of life whose shining example attract the attention of the world to our small island. The Puerto Rican veterans recognized by the Honor Flight Network who served in the U.S. Army in World War II, in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, belong to a long line of American Citizens who did not hesitate to step into cauldron of war when duty called.

Please join me in honoring Angel Acevedo-Bernard, Juan Acevedo- Carrion, Jose Adorno-Roman, Francisco Berrios-Jovet, Fred Buendia- Izquierdo, Rafael A. Cajigas-Morales, Wilfredo Cardec-Ramos, Andres Davila, Jesus Davila-Colon, Luis G. Padilla-Gautier, Cielo Guerrero, Jose I. Irizarry, Victor M. Labarca Lugo, Santos Martinez-Larriuz, Wilfredo Menendez-Quintana, Ruben Ortiz, Heriberto Ortiz-Ruiz, Salvador Rosado, Walter Santoni-Acevedo, Jose Torres and Ramon Torres-Gonzalez for courageously protecting our freedom and democracy.

I am beyond proud of these heroes who have so selflessly served our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate one of my constituents Inocencia Jusino from Lajas on her 90th birthday.

Mrs. Jusino was born in Lajas on April 15, 1933, to Juan Jusino and Laura Torres, the second daughter of six children. Her father took her out of school in the fifth grade to work in the fields, to help support the family. This gave her valuable life lessons, work ethic and the drive that she still has today.

She moved to Brooklyn at the age of 19, speaking only Spanish and started working with the Ladies Garment Workers Union where she worked for the following 47 years.

Mrs. Jusino married Miguel Angel Corales on May 14, 1955, and they had two children Edwin and Marilyn. Her family grew when her daughter married Philip and her son Annabell.

She is the proud Abuela (grandmother) or as her grandchildren call her Vendo Vendo to Ina Marie, Mel, John-Michael, Jose, Genevieve, Bryant, Philip II, Kelly, and Sam. She is also a great-grandmother to Naylani, Leeland and Ava.

Mrs, Jusino returned to Puerto Rico full time in 1995 and was widowed in 2003. Despite losing her husband, she has continued to be active in her church and community. She frequently travels and has never missed a milestone in her children or grandchildren's lives.

I call on my colleagues to join me in congratulating Inocencia Jusino on her 90th birthday and wishes for continued health and happiness with her family.

Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of this bill because this legislation will restore and secure American energy independence.

I am especially supportive of this bill's provisions to modernize the NEPA process. Look how long it takes for many of the permits to actually be approved. It streamlines the Federal permitting process for all industries. These commonsense reforms will provide the necessary certainty so projects across the Nation are carried out in a timely manner without sacrificing our environmental standards which are the most robust in the world.

This will be critical for jurisdictions like mine in Puerto Rico, as we rebuild our public and energy infrastructure from recent natural disasters. Modernizing NEPA and the Federal permitting process--setting clear and reasonable timelines for agencies to conduct environmental reviews--will help simplify the process and reduce bureaucratic hurdles that too often have delayed our recovery process.

This bill will also establish a revenue-sharing structure for offshore wind leases in Federal waters. I was proud to work with Chairman Westerman during our committee markup to secure language clarifying that both coastal States and territories will receive revenues from any Federal offshore wind development off their coasts.

Specifically, this bill establishes a framework under which coastal States and territories will get funds for these offshore wind revenues. This bill further requires that States and territories invest these funds in coastal protection and resiliency projects, such as hurricane and flood protection, restoration, conservation, beach nourishment, and estuary management.

Therefore, this is not just an energy security and permitting reform package. This is also a coastal resiliency bill. For that reason, and knowing that we got billions of dollars in Federal funding for reconstructing the island, this is the process we need, this is the reform we actually need to get those funds in hand.

I thank and commend Majority Leader Scalise, Chair Westerman, Chair Rodgers and Chair Graves for their leadership and work on this important, powerful legislation.

I wish I could vote for this bill on the floor of the House today, but as a territory delegate I cannot, but I support this bill.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the 106th anniversary of the people of Puerto Rico being granted their U.S. citizenship.

Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory in 1898. In 1906, President Roosevelt called on Congress to confer U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans. On March 2, 1917, the Jones Act was signed into law.

We are proud American citizens, and we are proud of the contributions we have made to this great Nation. More than 235,000 Puerto Rican servicemembers have served and have fought in every military conflict that our Nation has had since World War I.

However, although we are U.S. citizens, the Federal Government often treats us unequally. I live on the island, and I can tell you that we no longer want to be treated differently.

We want the same rights and responsibilities as our fellow citizens in the States, which can only be achieved with statehood.

Like Congress acted 106 years ago to grant us our cherished American citizenship, Congress has an obligation to act again and make us a permanent part of the Union as the 51st State.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate engineer Milan Mora of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District, on his selection as the 2022 LTG John W. Morris Civilian of the Year.

In the recovery process from natural disasters, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been a reliable partner for emergency response as well as infrastructure construction and protection of river and coastal resources for Puerto Rico, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Milan Mora has been a key part of this team, as the Chief of the Jacksonville District's Water Resources Branch.

Mr. Mora has shown true commitment to service in the protection of our communities and resources in the face of disasters and climate risks, and in support of American national security. In Puerto Rico he has been and continues to be a partner we can count on.

Having been chosen for this award by his colleagues shows their recognition and respect, and I join in congratulating him, a true friend of Puerto Rico, for this achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I would say, first of all, that I thank Chairman Graves for his leadership and for acting so swiftly to bring this bill to the floor of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise in support of my bill, H.R. 255. I thank Representatives Scott Peters of California, Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Neal Dunn of Florida for cosponsoring this legislation.

H.R. 255 would establish a process to identify ways to streamline and consolidate the collection of certain disaster information to start the recovery process for individuals and families that were devastated by any natural disaster.

Mr. Speaker, I hear about these issues with delays and confusion related to requirements and processing of disaster assistance on a regular basis. I meet with mayors of the island--and this is just in the case of Puerto Rico--but I know we do have the same process and the same situation across the Nation. This is a significant source of frustration for my mayors and my constituents as well as people all over the country.

While FEMA is the lead Federal agency on disasters, many others are also often involved in disaster response and recovery, like, for example, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Small Business Administration, just to name a few.

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, and the seismic activity in Puerto Rico in 2020, we discovered that Federal agency after Federal agency would require the same information in their preliminary assessments, which meant tens of thousands of site and damage assessments.

We see some of this repeating itself in the aftermath of last year's Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico and Hurricane Ian in Florida and with other disasters across the Nation.

This is not just a bill for the islands or the territories. This is a bill for the rest of the Nation on how to manage and get expedited help and response from Federal agencies.

Currently, there is no process to share these assessments among Federal agencies, which ultimately causes significant delays for immediate relief and prolongs recovery. This is compounded by other administrative issues like frequent staff changes and constituents and mayors having to work with multiple personnel to handle a single application or request.

In 2020, FEMA finally decided to begin consolidating assessments for Puerto Rico to speed up the delivery process across multiple Federal agencies. Many of these assessments are small, often one part of a larger project, which has continuously slowed down the recovery process.

H.R. 255 would establish a Federal working group led by FEMA, in collaboration with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, to identify ways to reduce duplication and modernize the Federal management assessment process to make it truly agile and efficient. We need to ensure assistance is provided while safeguarding taxpayer funds. I think with this bill we can do both.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is critical that these agencies are working together to minimize overlaps in their assessments and consider the use of the newest technologies to streamline processes. Very often, we, in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, have these same discussions about what happened in Louisiana, what happened in Florida, what happened on the East Coast, what happened on the West Coast every time we have a natural disaster. It always is the same problem.

I trust this bill will expedite disaster recovery across the Nation. As we have learned in Puerto Rico, it is not if the next disaster will occur, it is when it is going to happen and how we are going to face it.

Every 1st of June, another hurricane season begins for the territories and the eastern coast. Since the last time this language passed the House in the 117th Congress, we had another direct hit with Hurricane Fiona.

I am pleased we are considering this bill so early in this 118th Congress, and that is the reason I thanked our chairman for his marvelous job bringing this bill to the floor.

I can, therefore, work quickly to make this proposal the law of the land as part of our efforts to better prepare for disaster response.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 259, the Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act.

Again, I thank Chairman Graves for moving forward with this bipartisan initiative, for making it possible so early in this Congress, and for it to be considered today.

I also thank my sister from the Virgin Islands, Stacey Plaskett, as well as Representatives Malliotakis and Cleaver for their support and as cosponsors on this legislation.

H.R. 259 would provide an innovative and comprehensive approach to tracking Federal disaster projects and assistance, as well as the funds.

It establishes a single online repository to report information about Federal disaster assistance to provide transparency to the American taxpayer.

This proposal, developed in collaboration with the Project of Government Oversight, would establish a subpage for transparency of disaster assistance on the USASpending.gov website to better inform the public about the status of the use of disaster funding. And believe me, Mr. Speaker, every time I go back to the district every weekend this is the first question I receive from my constituents: What happened with the funds to the bridge?

What happened with the funds to the school?

What happened to the funds to the roads that are still damaged 5 years after a hurricane?

Many people ask themselves these questions: Where is the Federal funding that has been approved by Congress?

Where is the money that has been allocated to the Federal agencies?

Does a contractor have it?

Did the local government spend the money well?

Those are general questions that everybody, at least in Puerto Rico, are asking.

So this bill would require agencies that offered disaster assistance, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Agriculture, and many others, to regularly submit updated information to the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that the best possible data is available in an easily accessible format.

The data to be published would include: the amount of disaster assistance provided by the agencies; the amount of disaster assistance that has been obligated or expended to projects or activities; and a detailed list of all projects or activities for which disaster assistance dispersed by the agency was expended, obligated, or used, including a description of the project or activity, as well as an evaluation of the completion status of that project.

I think this will help not just the general public, not just American taxpayers, but also the government agencies to know where the funding is and when those projects are going to be completed.

During the last few years, my district, like many others represented here in the House, has faced multiple hardships due to disasters. In Puerto Rico, we are still working through the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the earthquakes of 2020, and last year's Hurricane Fiona. Much of the support has been approved for rebuilding--this Congress passed legislation allocating billions of Federal funding not just to Puerto Rico, but to Texas, to California, and to many other States--and, of course, we need better accountability and oversight to ensure this funding is being used as intended by Congress.

H.R. 259 will foster accessibility and transparency of information to track Federal funding and its status. It will also enable local mayors and legislators, nongovernmental organizations, and individual constituents to know what funding has been used for, where the funding will go, and how much funding is left to be spent, among other information.

In Puerto Rico we have put money here for hospitals, for piers, and for bridges, and people don't even know where the money is because the projects have not even begun yet. This kind of information will not only help Federal and local agencies but mostly the American taxpayers.

This will allow better awareness of progress and utilization of resources and to ensure that streams of available funding are not overlooked or underutilized.

The transparency provided with this bill will be essential for better congressional oversight of disaster recovery in all the States and communities where it has been received so agencies can account for how effectively it is being used, and if it is getting to the hands of the individuals and communities that need it and that it was intended to go to.

Mr. Speaker, passing this legislation will assist efforts to improve Federal disaster response and make it more accountable and effective. I urge my colleagues to vote for passage of H.R. 259, the Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act.

Madam Speaker, today is a truly historic day for Puerto Rico. Ironically, it is also a perfect example of the island's colonial reality.

I am Puerto Rico's only voice in Congress. I represent 3.2 million American citizens living back home, more constituents than anyone in this Chamber. Yet, while we consider a bill I helped write, a bill that will directly impact the life of every citizen I represent, I still must rely and depend on everybody here because I cannot vote on the floor. This is the best example of why this bill is so important for Puerto Rico.

Today, Congress takes a step toward finally assuming its responsibility under Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 of our Constitution to provide the people of Puerto Rico with an opportunity, a federally binding choice to democratically decide our future among three nonterritorial, constitutionally viable options: statehood, independence, and independence in association with the United States.

For the first time in history, we are considering legislation that would authorize a self-executing plebiscite on the island. With the adoption of this bill, this Chamber is also recognizing and making clear that Puerto Rico's century-old territorial status is the problem and cannot be part of the solution.

The territorial condition constrains the island's ability to prosper and has relegated the island to an indefinite second-class status when compared to the 50 States.

This is the main reason behind social, economic, and physical challenges we have faced, forcing a mass exodus of millions of Puerto Ricans to the mainland in search of that equality.

Congress has perpetuated by its inaction this dysfunctional political-economic condition, one that at its core is, as President Ronald Reagan once characterized it, ``historically unnatural.''

Because we are a territory, the people of Puerto Rico lack full voting representation in the House and Senate and cannot vote for the President, who sends our sons and daughters to war.

Because we are a territory, the Federal Government can, and often does, treat us unequally under Federal laws and programs.

Because we are a territory, we are treated as second-class citizens.

Because we are a territory, I am here today discussing a bill related to one of our most critical issues, yet I cannot vote on this bill. This is the reason this discussion is so important.

I support statehood for the island, and our people have voted not once, not twice, but three times already supporting statehood.

In response, I introduced H.R. 1522, which, following the most recent precedents of Alaska and Hawaii, would have established a process to admit the island as a State of the Union in a simple yes or no vote. However, given the political realities in this Congress, and in the interest of advancing the status issue, I led negotiations on this bill before us.

This bill would make an offer to the people of Puerto Rico to choose. I prefer statehood, but this bill would allow the people to choose between statehood, independence, or independence in association with the United States, and spell out the consequences of each option.

Of course, this bill is not perfect, but at least it will advance the issue.

Today, I remember the late Congressman Don Young of Alaska, who understood better than anyone else the inequities that come with being a territory and always championed statehood for Puerto Rico.

Madam Speaker, never has a U.S. territory had to wait longer than Puerto Rico to become an independent nation or to become a State, and we have voted three times for that. We have more than earned the right to do so.

Today, as the sole representative of the people of the island, I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill, H.R. 8393, and allow us to finally put an end to our shameful territorial status.

Madam Speaker, on May 12, 2021, President Biden nominated

the Hon. Gustavo Antonio Gelpi, Jr. to be a United States Circuit Judge in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, to the seat left vacant by the late Judge Juan R. Torruella. On October 18, 2021, Judge Gelpi was confirmed by the Senate and received his judicial commission on October 19, 2021. I was honored to support his nomination.

The U.S. Circuit Court for the First Circuit hears appeals from the U.S. District Courts of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, and Rhode Island. A voice for Puerto Rico--a civil law jurisdiction unlike the remaining common law jurisdictions under the Circuit's purview--is necessary for the fair and impartial application of the law. However, although the population of Puerto Rico is more than double that of each of the other districts in the circuit except for Massachusetts, Judge Gelpi is only the second judge of Hispanic origin and only the second judge from Puerto Rico ever to serve in that Court since it was established by Congress in 1891. I am confident that Judge Gelpi will give Puerto Rico the loud and booming voice in that Court that has been silent since Judge Torruella's passing.

Judge Gelpi served in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico for 20 years, first as a magistrate judge and then as district judge. During this time, he gained a reputation for being stern and serious, but patient and courteous; for having an even temper and a sense of humor; for having common sense and an understanding of the human condition; for being open to consider new legal theories but always following the law.

As he goes on to take his seat in the First Circuit, I would like to remind him of Justice Sandra O'Connor's admonition to judges: ``Be independent, be fair, venture to be wise.''

``Be independent''. Decide matters that come before you impartially, on the basis of facts, in accordance with the law, and without regards to outside influence, self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism.

``Be fair''. Stay true to the rule that all persons are equal before the eyes of the law. Make sure that judicial proceedings are conducted fairly and that the rights of the parties are respected. Remember that the appearance of fairness and impartiality is almost as important as the reality of it.

``Venture to be wise.'' Be humble and recognize that judges do not have monopoly on wisdom and that they will not get it right every time. Approach each case with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Be restrained in your decisions. Seek counsel from your fellow judges.

I thank Judge Gelpi for his years of exemplary service to the people of Puerto Rico and I am certain that, in this new stage of his career, he will continue to serve the people of Puerto Rico with outstanding merit.

I would also like to acknowledge my friend, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, who was an invaluable ally in raising bipartisan support for Judge Gelpi's appointment. Because we worked together for the benefit of Puerto Rico, irrespective of party lines, we were able to secure the nomination and confirmation of the most qualified candidate for the job.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate the Puerto Rico Hospital Association (PRHA) in its 80th anniversary of service to the people of Puerto Rico.

The PRHA was established in 1942 with the mission of ensuring the quality of the services provided by the hospitals to the residents of Puerto Rico, and of improving the health of the residents of Puerto Rico by helping to provide the most comprehensive services possible.

Throughout the years, the PRHA has participated in numerous national and international forums--such as the American Association of Hospitals (Washington D.C.), the International Federation of Hospitals (London, England), the Latin American Federation of Hospitals (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and the Ibero-American Organization of Private Healthcare Providers (Madrid, Spain)--in order to guarantee that the services provided by their members are world-class.

The PRHA has consistently been a steadfast and an invaluable ally to the Office of the Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico in the fight against the discriminatory treatment of the residents of Puerto Rico in federal social and healthcare programs.

I recognize the assistance of the PRHA in our fight for the fair and sustainable funding of Puerto Rico's Medicaid program and of the fair and equitable treatment for Medicaid beneficiaries and providers in Puerto Rico. I also commend their steadfast advocacy in Congress on behalf of their members.