Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the approval in the House of the Senate amendment to H.R. 1192, the Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act of 2021.

I joined Representative Velazquez to promote this bipartisan and commonsense bill to help ensure the restructuring process under PROMESA serves Puerto Rico's interests. Actually, just

this week, the plan was approved by the Federal Court, so this is perfect timing to approve this bill today.

Though it required some technical corrections, it is satisfying to see this bill has already achieved passage in both Chambers. I wish for my colleague, Congresswoman Velazquez, to be fully recovered in time to see it become law.

The intent of this legislation remains the same, and this bill will require any person or firm hired as legal, financial or technical staff or consultants for the Financial Oversight Board in the court cases for the restructuring of Puerto Rico's debt, to submit verified disclosures of all connections with debtors, creditors, or other interested parties in the process, before being compensated.

Our intention is not to exclude people with experience in Puerto Rico's financial transactions from being resources in the restructuring process, but it is essential that their connection to any parties interested in those transactions be known. Conflict of interest, or the appearance of conflict of interest, can be best avoided if there is accountability and transparency.

Anyone working to inform the Board's decisions, or representing it before the court, needs to be committed to defending the interests of the people of Puerto Rico first, in accordance with the law and justice.

Lack of transparency creates a lack of trust, and this bill will work toward avoiding that by making these disclosures a legal mandate rather than the Board's own discretion.

Our goal is to reach the day we no longer need the provisions of PROMESA and the Oversight Board, but until that happens, these instruments must be accountable and transparent.

I ask my colleagues to support the passage of the Senate amendment to H.R. 1192, the Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act of 2021.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Upton for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1667, the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Act. This bill strikes close to home for me. I know a gentleman who served in our Armed Forces as an enlisted hospital corpsman and advocated for this bill.

He responded after the 2011 earthquake in Haiti, working in an intensive care unit and caring for local residents, even as an estimated 200,000 lives were lost. He and many of his fellow corpsmen were teenagers at the time.

Upon returning home, he thought, as this bill calls it, that he was simply burned out. Many of those he served with would abruptly leave the service or transition to administrative duties.

After suffering from flashbacks during emergency and medical situations, though, this gentleman would quietly leave the service as well, recognizing that he could no longer render the care that he had been trained to give. It would take nearly a decade for him to begin accessing mental health resources that he needed.

Madam Speaker, I tell this story, with his permission, of course, to make two points.

First, that widespread provider burnout can lead to staffing shortages.

Second, that many times we use the phrase ``burnout'' to hide deeper wounds. Burnout implies a short-term change, one that seemingly heals with a break or a vacation. But as our hospitals have overflowed in places with COVID patients, burnout can be something more serious.

That is why this bill is important. It establishes a communication campaign to educate and encourage providers to seek care. It will decrease costs by establishing grant programs for providers who use that care, and it will produce cutting-edge science on the problem of burnout among physicians.

Madam Speaker, let me close by saying that all healthcare providers should know that accessing the resources this act will provide is a good thing. It means they are still human enough to appreciate the tragedies they experience.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Arecibo Observatory one year after the collapse of the former 305-meter radio telescope.

For 57 years, the radio telescope provided for the advancement of scientific research and development, supported STEM education, and fostered multiple discoveries that helped us better understand our planet and the surrounding universe.

News and footage of the shattered telescope has deeply impacted those who have worked, studied, visited, or knew about this feature of the facility since 1963.

We must now focus on what lies ahead.

Congress must continue recognizing the significant asset our Nation had in this instrument, as we work with relevant Federal agencies to move forward and, most importantly, build on the capabilities we once had with the former telescope.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the work of the America Lodge No. 77 on its centennial celebration.

The America Lodge No. 77 was founded 100 years ago and continues to exercise its work ascribed to the Great Sovereign Lodge of Free and Accepted Freemasons of Puerto Rico. On June 19th of 1921, a group of eight distinguished masons celebrated a meeting presided over by the honorable Pedro Del Valle Atiles. In this meeting the new lodge was constituted with the name of Americas.

The Grand Master William E. Lippitt presided over the ceremony when the Great Lodge of Free and Accepted Freemason of Puerto Rico granted the Founding Charter to the America Lodge. With this the number 77 was assigned to the America Lodge and the new Officialdom was installed.

It is motive of pride for the America Lodge No. 77, the fact that their members are not limited to their masonic activities for the benefit of their lodge only. A great number of them have rendered valuable services to humanity like educational conferences about the Masonic history and providing resources to assist the victims of Hurricane Maria. Additionally, members of the Lodge have held positions of importance in different industries throughout the history of the Lodge having a great impact in their communities.

I'm honored to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the America Lodge No. 77, recognizing the uninterrupted work that their members continue to perform.

Madam Speaker, Dr. James Eckert is one of many fellow Americans born stateside but whose path took him to Puerto Rico, where he raised his family and devoted himself to the development of education. His leadership in the military and educational fields touched many in our dear Island. Born on October 2, 1932, in New York City, New York, he attended the University of Southern California where he received his bachelor's degree. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, receiving a Commission as a Marine Corps Officer in 1960. His recent passing is a deeply felt loss to his family but also to the many people in Puerto Rico that were touched by him.

During his military career, he served in the Republic of South Korea and South Vietnam. He also served at sea aboard the USS Boxer, a 27,100-ton Essex-class aircraft carrier that in the late 1950's was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet as an ``interim amphibious assault ship'' and mainly operated in the Caribbean area with the Tenth Provisional Marine Brigade on board. While the USS Boxer was in Puerto Rico, Marine Officer James Eckert met his future wife Mrs. Carmen ``Tata'' Eckert from the town of Fajardo. Their relationship blossomed and was blessed by the arrival of 3 children who grew to become professional in their own right; Attorney Heydsha Colon, Mr. James D. Eckert and Mr. Larry E. Eckert who enriched the family with a bouquet of 5 grandchildren.

After 25 years of service and with the rank of Major, James D. Eckert retired from the United States Marine Corps with the satisfaction of having served our nation with great honor. During his military career Major Eckert's valor and leadership was recognized by various decorations, medals, badges and commendations. Upon retirement Major Eckert established his family in Puerto Rico where he pursued and obtained Master and Doctoral Degrees in Education and worked in different leadership positions ranging from High School to University level.

The Marine Corps motto of ``Semper Fidelis'' or Always Faithfull accompanied him through his life after retirement, where his sense of duty manifested in his voluntary service in various military and civic organizations. He served as President of the Puerto Rico chapters of the Military Order of the World Wars and the Reserve Officers Association and was an active member of the Marine Corps Association, the Navy League of the United States. Respected as a leader, family man, father, grandfather and restless advocate of Puerto Rico's veteran and military community, he always demonstrated his patriotism, bravery, and courage. Without a doubt Major James D. Eckert is an example and inspiration to follow by all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1502, the COPS Counseling Act of 2021. I was also proud to cosponsor the House companion to this bill--H.R. 3070--introduced by Representatives David Trone of Maryland and Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania.

This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would encourage the adoption of law enforcement peer counseling programs across the nation by requiring the U.S. Department of Justice to issue and make publicly available a report on best practices for such programs. To

further support their implementation, the bill would also direct the Department to provide a list of training programs for individuals to become peer support mentors.

Our law enforcement officers often face challenging and at times traumatic experiences while performing their duties and keeping our communities safe. It's critical we ensure they have the necessary level of support to address these situations, and peer-to-peer counseling can serve as an effective mental health outlet to share their personal experiences; access and identify resources; and receive help and guidance within a trusted network of colleagues.

To ensure peer counseling programs are effective, it's also important we protect the privacy of those officers seeking mental health services. That's why I'm pleased the COPS Counseling Act would require that the information disclosed during peer support counseling sessions by Federal law enforcement officers is kept confidential, except under certain circumstances such as threats of physical harm and admission of criminal activity. This guarantee of privacy will go a long way in building confidence and encouraging more Federal law enforcement officers to take advantage of the opportunities provided through these programs.

Every day, our brave men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line to protect our communities. As Members of Congress, we must redouble our efforts to support them, including through mental health and counseling services. That's why I support the COPS Counseling Act and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, the construction of the Veterans Administration Domiciliary Program & Psychosocial Outpatient Center in Puerto Rico is a long overdue facility that will serve Veterans in the geographic area of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including close to 23,000 mental health patients. The Center will complement the Veterans Administration Carribean Health System (VACHS) with Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs to assist Veterans living with mental illness. The programs will assist the Veteran by instilling hope, validating strengths, teaching skills, and facilitating community integration so that each Veteran can develop meaningful self-determined roles in the community.

With 52,000 net usable square feet and 177 parking spaces and an investment of approximately $50 million dollars, the VA Domiciliary Program & Psychosocial Outpatient Center will include a Residential Program and a Psychosocial Recovery Program. In the facility the veterans of the region will be able to receive services close to their homes, rather than referring them to other facilities in the U.S. mainland, which could deprive our Veterans from their family support and limiting their ability to fully benefit from the services received, due to cultural and language barriers,

The Veterans of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands have never wavered in their resolve to give their best in the defense of the Nation. Overcoming social norms and without full representation in the U.S. Congress, as deserved by all American citizens, they persevered and are an inspiration to all of us.

Today, October 20, 2021, the words of President Abraham Lincoln, ``To care for him who shall have borne the battle,'' that are the motto of the VA, are fulfilled as we celebrate the ground breaking of the construction of the Veterans Administration Domiciliary Program & Psychosocial Outpatient Center in Puerto Rico. I hope we can all be inspired by the example of the Veterans of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and ask that we can commit ourselves to making sure that the words of President Abraham Lincoln compel us to strive without rest to serve those who served.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my amendments that are included in this amendment en bloc number 2 for the National Defense Authorization Act.

This bill includes three amendments that were submitted by my office that will directly benefit our Nation's security and, of course, the people of Puerto Rico.

The first one is amendment 162, which authorizes research into the health effects of nearly 70 years of live fire training in the municipality of Vieques.

As well, amendment 163 supports the Puerto Rico National Guard by prohibiting the retirement of the current landing craft ships, or the MAG boats, not only used in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2019 and that were used again in March of this year. The Puerto Rico National Guard has used these ships to provide lifesaving food, water, and other equipment to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vieques, and Culebra after any natural disaster. We cannot afford to retire these ships until they are replaced.

Lastly, will be amendment 164, which requires the Secretary of the Army to allocate a Modular Small Arms Range to Puerto Rico. This is to increase the readiness of the Armed Forces. Right now, Puerto Rico only has a single firearms range for the Department of Defense personnel. That means that there are numerous scheduling conflicts, and it decreases the mission readiness on the island.

I think those amendments should be supported.

I want to thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Rogers; I really appreciate all their good work on this NDAA. Included in this en bloc are numerous provisions for the people of Puerto Rico as a territory.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of en bloc package number two for the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022.

This bill includes three amendments that were submitted by my office and will directly benefit the people of Puerto Rico and our Nation's security.

Amendment 162 requires the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences for the purpose of investigating the health effects on the island Municipality of Vieques that may have been

caused by toxic waste left after nearly 70 years of live fire training.

This waste includes heavy metals like lead, cancer-causing fuel chemicals, and even depleted uranium. In some locations, areas are so contaminated that it is not safe for workers to collect samples.

While there are numerous studies from different government agencies on this topic, including from the Centers for Disease Control and Government Accountability Office, much work remains to be done to further understand the consequences from this practice.

I am proud to say that this legislation now builds upon existing research for this important topic.

Amendment number 163 prohibits the Secretary of Defense from retiring the Landing Craft ships used by Puerto Rico's Army National Guard until such time as an adequate replacement is provided.

These ships delivered critical food, water, and other materials to Puerto Rico's noncontiguous islands of Vieques and Culebra, as well as the US Virgin Islands, following the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

The landing craft ships were scheduled to be retired this year, however the adopted amendment prohibits this decommissioning until replacement equipment arrives to Puerto Rico.

My third and last amendment, number 164, requires the Secretary of the Army to allocate a Modular Small Arms Range to Puerto Rico.

Currently, Puerto Rico only has a single firearms range for Department of Defense personnel.

This creates numerous scheduling conflicts and decreases mission readiness.

Puerto Rico's own Fort Buchanan has the capacity to support a Modular Small Arms Range. My office has met with both Army leaders who support this request.

Let me close by noting that H.R. 4350 includes funding over 12 million dollars in funding for Fort Allen and 10 million for the Ramey Unit School, under the energy resilience and conservation program. Finally, H.R. 4350 includes 14 million under military construction for Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico. I am appreciative of the Armed Service committees work and I look forward to seeing these projects to completion.

I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of en bloc number two.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa, born 157 years ago today.

Dr. Barbosa, the father of the Puerto Rican Statehood movement, was a distinguished physician, politician and publisher, and founder of the Republican Party in Puerto Rico.

Born in the city of Bayamon, in a time when a black man had limited opportunities, he broke barriers and studied medicine at the University of Michigan, where he grew to understand the values of the United States, and when he came back to Puerto Rico in 1880 he began to challenge the Spanish colonial system, becoming active in seeking greater home rule.

When Puerto Rico became part of the United States after the Spanish American War, Barbosa saw in the American Constitution and in Statehood the way to ensure democracy, liberty and equality for the people of his Island. Establishing the Republican Party in Puerto Rico on the 4th of July 1899, he became the strongest and most fervent voice in favor of American law and institutions. From his positions both in the Executive Cabinet and later in the Senate of Puerto Rico, he steadfastly insisted that this should mean full equality as a State of the Union.

For a century since his passing, generations of leaders in Puerto Rico across all social divides have followed the inspiration of Barbosa, striving to make his aspiration a reality: for the people of Puerto Rico to fully participate as American Citizens, contributing to the nation

and sharing in its future, by having our Island become a State of the Union.

That was his ideal and it is mine, and that of many in Puerto Rico. Just last November, a majority of our voters said Yes to Barbosa's vision, electing statehood. I am here to make sure that their voice is heard, as the best way to honor his memory and reaffirm his goal.

Barbosa's memory lives on, in everyone who seeks justice and equality for Puerto Rico.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment No. 151, which seeks to provide an additional $650,000 to the U.S. Geological Survey to accelerate updating the seismic hazard model for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The corresponding offset would come from a small portion of the increase to transition the U.S. Geological Survey fleet to zero emission vehicles, which falls under the same account.

The National Seismic Hazard Model describes the potential impacts of earthquakes nationwide and serves as the basis for seismic provisions in building codes. While the U.S. Geological Survey office last updated the model for the 48 contiguous States in 2018, it has not updated the models for Alaska since 2007, for Hawaii since 1998, and for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands since 2003.

The U.S. Geological Survey has begun updating the models for Alaska and Hawaii, which will be released with the next update of the National Seismic Hazard Model in 2023. Unfortunately, there is not enough time to update the models for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. That is the reason this amendment will provide the initial funds needed to permit the U.S. Geological Survey to complete Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands update within 3 years, by 2024.

In Puerto Rico we know firsthand the devastating impact earthquakes can have, as we saw last year in the southern part of the island where most of the schools were destroyed as well as infrastructure. Updating the hazard model is, therefore, urgent and crucial to saving lives and ensuring that we have the necessary tools to prepare for future seismic events.

Mr. Speaker, that is the reason I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3985, the bipartisan Afghan ALLIES Act, and to speak on the imminent threat facing Afghan translators and their families.

These translators played a critical role in serving the United States and helped ensure the safety and success of our troops abroad. Yet today our allies--and their families--are being hunted down and killed by the Taliban as it retakes Afghanistan. When our country goes to war with its allies, we make a decision to bring everyone home, and it is time to bring our allies home, Mr. Speaker.

While I welcome President Biden's recent efforts, notably the initiation of Operation Allies Refuge and the announcement this week that military bases in Virginia and elsewhere will be used to temporarily house evacuating translators and their families, I remain concerned.

First: I am concerned by the Administration considering temporarily housing evacuees in other countries, some of which cannot guarantee translators safety. We should not be shifting the burden of our responsibility to others, especially when so many communities around the United States stand ready to welcome these heroes with open arms.

Second, I am concerned at the daunting task the State Department now faces. This task is exacerbated in no small part by the rushed withdrawal timeline set by the administration. There are thousands of individuals awaiting a safe home--a home that has been promised to them by our commonly held values and through legislation dating back to the early days of the War on Terror, legislation we now seek to amend.

H.R. 3985 is designed to meet this moment. This bill increases the number of visas by 8,000 to ensure an adequate number of visas are eligible for applicants currently in the pipeline. The bill would also remove redundant paperwork while still ensuring applicants go through the necessary, strict background checks, and national security vetting. Finally, the ALLIES Act extends and strengthens protections for surviving spouses and children of deceased SIV applicants.

Time is running out for our allies. We must pass this life-saving legislation before it is too late. I encourage our colleagues in the Senate to vote on this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First of all, I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 2016, the Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act.

First, I want to thank Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves for bringing this bill to the floor, as well as Chairwoman Norton. But I would also like to thank Representative Scott Peters from California for cosponsoring this legislation.

In the last Congress, I joined with former colleague, Mark Meadows, in proposing this bill, and it was with great satisfaction that I see it come to the floor.

This is a simple bill that will establish a process to identify ways to streamline and consolidate the collection of certain disaster information in order to start the recovery process for individuals, families, and government devastated by natural disasters.

While FEMA is the lead Federal agency on disasters, there are multiple Federal agencies involved in every disaster response and recovery. This often leads to duplicative assessments and causes serious delays for the recovery process to begin.

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the seismic activity in Puerto Rico, we discovered how Federal agency after Federal agency, from FEMA, to HUD, to SBA, would require the same information from applicants, location, nature of damage, ownership, value of damage, estimated repair costs, among many others, in each of their preliminary assessments.

There was no process to share this information between the Federal agencies, which ultimately caused significant delays during both immediate relief and long-term recovery. At one point, these represented more than 70,000 assessments of individual worksites that each needed to be completed by FEMA. Many of these assessments will be small parts of a larger project; sites costing under $126,000, with responsibilities divided among municipalities and State agencies. Many of these were each, itself, a part of a larger process.

For example, repairs to individual pipes, storage tanks or pumps of an aqueduct system; and having to evaluate each site individually will slow down the whole project.

After many complaints from us and the local governments, FEMA, finally, in 2020, decided to begin consolidating these assessments for Puerto Rico to speed up the project delivery process across multiple Federal agencies.

I think it is critically important that Federal response agencies work together to minimize overlaps in their assessments and take advantage of the newest technologies.

Specifically, this bill will establish a Federal working group led by FEMA that will work with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and in consultation with HUD, SBA, HHS, EDA, the Department of Labor, and OMB to identify ways to reduce duplication and modernize the Federal damage assessments process.

This is a good government bill that will help expedite all forms of disaster recovery across the Nation. As we have learned in Puerto Rico, it is not a matter of if there is a next disaster; it is about when it is going to happen, at least in our case.

So we must be ready to respond in a way that takes care of the immediate needs of those facing a disaster and of rebuilding with resiliency. That response needs to be efficient and effective, and with this legislation, we are going to help bring this about.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne).

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), my friend and the ranking member of the Aviation Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I just want to say, in closing, that H.R. 2016 is a good-government, bipartisan piece of legislation that will help streamline and improve disaster recovery efforts.

It is not just Puerto Rico. It is not just the Caribbean. From the western part of the United States to even the territories, we are all affected by natural disasters.

I want to thank, again, Representative Scott Peters from California for co-leading this legislation, as well as Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves for recognizing the merits of this bill.

I urge support of H.R. 2016, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I stand with Israel.

Today, in National Police Week, I rise to recognize our municipal, State, and Federal law enforcement officers in Puerto Rico and their commitment to public safety.

I also rise to honor those brave officers from the island who lost their lives in the line of duty during the past year.

From the Puerto Rico Police Bureau: Captain Roberto Rodriguez- Hernandez, Lieutenants Jose Garcia-Vazquez and Juan Rivera-Padua, Sergeants Miguel Martinez-Ortiz, Ricardo Perez-Ortiz, Mayra Rodriguez- Burgado, Juan Ramirez-Padilla, Luis Marrero-Diaz, and Juan Rosado- Lopez.

From the Carolina Municipal Police Department: Sergeants Eliezer Hernandez-Cartagena and Luis Salaman-Conde.

We are eternally grateful to those officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting their communities.

Let's back the blue.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a distinguished past Member of this House, the Honorable Carlos Romero Barcelo, also former Governor of Puerto Rico, who passed away on May 2, 2021.

Congressman Romero Barcelo represented the people of Puerto Rico in this Congress from 1993 to 2001.

He was not only a dear friend, but also a mentor whose tireless, lifelong devotion for the equality of all island residents inspired me to follow his footsteps.

I ask that the House observe a moment of silence in his memory.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1448, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act.

From a personal standpoint, this legislation would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to collaborate with nongovernmental entities and carry out a service dog pilot program to address post- deployment mental health and PTSD in our veterans.

I have a big community of more than 136,000 veterans in Puerto Rico, and well-trained service animals provide disabled veterans with PTSD numerous benefits. For example, they can be trained to wake up veterans from nightmares, interrupt flashbacks, and quite literally watch their backs.

There is growing evidence that service animal intervention really works. Veterans report that animal training can help mitigate the effects of intrusive memories while grounding them in the present moment. A growing body of research also shows that patients with service animals experience a better quality of life, lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and increased chances of sustaining meaningful employment.

As we all know, the Department of Veterans Affairs is a leader in healthcare and research for veterans, and this bill will provide an opportunity to support a growing standard of care for our veterans. As such, that is the reason I support the bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1448.