Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the administration recently announced sharp cuts to Federal grant funding for universities, medical centers, and other research institutions. These cuts will devastate our students, our professors, and our seniors.

What concerns me the most is these cuts will devastate Puerto Rico. Why?

The NIH, the target of these cuts, funds critical medical research. During the past year, the NIH has supported 73 projects and provided up to $53 million for Puerto Rico's universities, hospitals, and research centers like Centro Medico in San Juan.

These cuts threaten local programs studying diseases that disproportionately affect Puerto Ricans, like diabetes, Alzheimer's, cancer, and other rare diseases. These cuts will hinder scientific research and progress. These cuts will hinder people's access to healthcare. These cuts will set us back vis-a-vis China and our geopolitical rivals.

The government cannot treat people like numbers on a spreadsheet. We can't cut corners on healthcare and education. We can't fall behind our global rivals. We must protect the NIH.

Now, for the benefit of my constituents, I will repeat my remarks in Spanish.

(Spanish translation of the statement made in English is as follows:)

Senor presidente:

La Administracion anuncio recientemente recortes drasticos en la financiacion de subvenciones federales para universidades, centros medicos y otros instituciones de investigacion.

Estos recortes devastaran a nuestros estudiantes, nuestros profesores y nuestros adultos mayores.

Lo que mas me preocupa: estos recortes devastaran a Puerto Rico.

rPor que?

Los NIH, el objetivo de estos recortes, financian investigaciones medicas cruciales.

Durante el ultimo ano, los NIH han apoyado 73 proyectos y proporcionado hasta $53 millones a universidades, hospitales y centros de investigacion en Puerto Rico como el Centro Medico en San Juan.

Estos recortes amenazan programas locales que estudian enfermedades que afectan desproporcionadamente a los puertorriquenos, como el cancer, la diabetes, el Alzheimer y otras enfermedades raras.

Estos recortes obstaculizaran la investigacion y el progreso cientifico.

Estos recortes dificultaran el acceso del pueblo a la atencion medica.

Estos recortes nos haran retroceder frente a China y nuestros rivales geopoliticos.

El gobierno no puede tratar a las personas como cifras en una hoja de calculo.

No podemos recortar en salud y educacion.

No podemos quedarnos atras frente a nuestros rivales globales.

Debemos proteger a los NIH.

Mr. Speaker, imagine it is New Year's Eve, and you are full of hope and optimism. This will be your year. You might finally get that promotion or you will graduate. You might finally lose those extra pounds.

All of a sudden, the power goes out. You are used to it. It is maybe the first time it happens that day. It probably isn't the first time it happens that week. It certainly isn't the first time it happens that year.

The hours go by, and the power doesn't come back. The clock strikes 12, you hear the fireworks, you hear the countdowns, but when you try to turn on the power, it doesn't turn back on.

That was the sad reality of nearly 1.2 million Puerto Ricans on New Year's Eve. That is the sad reality that many thousands of Puerto Ricans will face on an average day. Why? Because of an outdated power grid and a slow recovery process after Hurricane Maria.

Puerto Rico's energy crisis is not a partisan issue. The left can treat it as a humanitarian crisis. The right can see it as an obstacle to making America great again. The center can view it as both.

It is a problem and it needs a solution, which is why I, alongside Representatives Torres and Soto, sent a letter to the administration in support of our Republican Governor's request

for a federal emergency declaration to address this crisis.

We urge the administration to act. We urge the administration to unblock the Federal resources that Puerto Rico needs to address this problem. We urge the administration to empower the people of Puerto Rico to be able to overcome this issue.

Now, for the benefit of my constituents, I will repeat my remarks in Spanish.

(Spanish translation of the statement made in English is as follows:)

Senor presidente,

Imagina que es la vispera de Ano Nuevo.

Estas lleno de esperanza y optimismo. Este sera tu ano. Vas a terminar la escuela; conseguiras ese ascenso; tal vez, finalmente, perderas esas libras de mas.

Y, de repente, se va la luz. Puede que sea la primera vez que pasa ese dia, pero probablemente no es la primera vez que pasa esa semana y, sin duda, no es la primera vez que pasa ese ano.

Lamentablemente, ya estas acostumbrado. Pero pasan las horas y la luz no regresa.

El reloj marca la medianoche, ves los fuegos artificiales, escuchas la cuenta regresiva, pero no puedes encender las luces. Recibes el nuevo ano con un sentimiento de desesperanza, frustracion y desconsuelo.

Esa fue la triste realidad de casi 1.2 millones de puertorriquenos el 31 de diciembre.

Esa es la triste realidad de miles de puertorriquenos muchas veces al ano.

qPor que? Por una red electrica anticuada y una recuperacion lenta despues del huracan Maria.

Este no es un asunto partidista. La izquierda puede verlo como un asunto humanitario. La derecha puede verlo como un obstaculo para ``Make America Great Again''. El centro puede verlo como ambas cosas. No importa; esto es un problema y necesita una solucion.

Por eso, junto a los representantes Torres y Soto, envie una carta al presidente Trump en apoyo a la solicitud de la gobernadora republicana de Puerto Rico para que se declare una emergencia federal debido a la crisis energetica de la isla.

Instamos a la administracion a actuar. Los instamos a declarar un estado de emergencia, liberar recursos federales, y empoderar a Puerto Rico a enfrentar este reto.

Madam Speaker, this past weekend, Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro boldly declared his intention to invade and liberate Puerto Rico.

As Puerto Rico's Representative before the United States Government, I want to let Mr. Maduro know an overwhelming majority of Puerto Ricans support a relationship of permanent union or permanent association with the United States, be that as a State or as a U.S. Commonwealth.

That same overwhelming majority also defends the right of a respectable patriotic minority to advocate and fight for the island's independence through peaceful and democratic means. That respect for differing views is a hallmark of our democratic values, something Mr. Maduro clearly does not understand.

The future of Puerto Rico will be decided by Puerto Ricans in a peaceful and democratic manner, the same way that the future of Venezuela should be decided by the Venezuelan people in a peaceful and democratic manner.

I will address my constituents in Spanish.

(Spanish translation of the statement made in English is as follows:)

Este pasado fin de semana el dictador venezolano Nicolas Maduro anuncio su intencion de invadir y liberar a Puerto Rico.

Una mayoria abrumadora de los puertorriquenos respalda la union o asociacion permanente con los Estados Unidos, a traves del estatus del Estado Libre Asociado o de la aspiracion de convertir a Puerto Rico en un estado de la union.

Esa mayoria abrumadora respalda el derecho de una minoria respetable y patriotica de impulsar pacifica y democraticamente el derecho de Puerto Rico a su independencia.

Esa tolerancia por las diferencias es uno de los valores fundamentales de nuestra cultura democratica, algo que Nicoas Maduro es incapaz de comprender.

Maduro, el futuro de Puerto Rico lo decidiremos pacifica y democraticamente los puertorriquenos, asi como el futuro de Venezuela lo deben decidir pacifica y democraticamente los venezolanos.