All Quotes

Congressman Serrano and myself filed bill H.R. 4251 to amend the Stafford Act that will provide for all the resources to have a more resilient and efficient energy system after the disaster.

The treatment for the territories need to be equal as any other state.

It is fair that taxpayers would want to know, that the process is being managed transparently and responsibly.

But there is much more left to do, in both the short- and the long-term recovery and reconstruction of the islands.

We should not expect Puerto Rico to have a first-class economy when we treat Puerto Ricans as second-class citizens.

I also want to thank and take the opportunity to welcome Governor Ricardo Rossello and Governor Kenneth Mapp for their presence here, who have worked tirelessly for the last month and a half in an effort to bring some sense of normalcy to…

We need, as Congress, to make many changes in a lot of Federal laws to provide for those services to the island.

The greatest heroes working this project are the people of Puerto Rico.

I think it is important for Congress and all Members from the House and the Senate to actually go there.

That is the reason we need to look beyond immediate response for bridges, power grid, and roof tarps under the Corps of Engineers.

We still have 70 percent of our island without power, 20 percent without running water, and 20 percent without access to networks.

I have a voice, but I don't have a vote. That is the reason this hearing is so important for Puerto Rico.

We have a big problem here, and the treatment the territories are receiving in Medicaid. That is the bottom line of the problem.

We think we should improve the way Puerto Rico businesses are making contracts directly for their government.

The situation of the economic crisis in Puerto Rico, it is very important to fix, and having small business empowered to do that I think is the key to solve part of that situation.

I want to thank SBA Administrator Linda McMahon for her commitment and her leadership regarding and facing these issues.

We need to have a procurement center on the island. I think that will solve a lot of the issues regarding the federal contracting situations that the island is facing.

I think it is most important to acknowledge and recognize that under PROMESA, we are looking forward to have the tools to improve our economy.