All Quotes

As a co-sponsor of the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act, I am persuaded that the island's territorial status is a cause of its economic conditions.

I strongly believe that the people of Puerto Rico should similarly be given the opportunity to exercise their right to establish a permanent unalterable relationship with the United States or to become an independent country controlling…

H.R. 727 would authorize a federally-sponsored vote to be held in Puerto Rico by the end of 2017, with a ballot containing a single question: 'Shall Puerto Rico be admitted as a state of the United States'?

I have introduced a bill in Congress to give Puerto Rico state-like treatment under Chapter 9.

Thus, I have introduced a comprehensive bill to essentially provide Puerto Rico with state-like treatment under Medicaid and Medicare.

If you give us the same rights and responsibilities as our fellow American citizens, and let us rise or fall on our merits, we will rise.

Puerto Rico is treated unequally under Medicaid and Medicare.

It takes real patriotism to fight for a nation you love, but one that does not treat you equally.

Puerto Rico is a territory. If it does not wish to remain a territory, it can become a state or a sovereign nation.

It is high time that we reach a consensus on a path forward for Puerto Rico to permanently resolve their political status.

Puerto Rico doctors who serve traditional, fee-for-service Medicare patients are unfairly treated under the current Practice Expense Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) payment formula.

This is a critical admission. You are basically saying we think the law Congress enacted for the 50 States is imperfect.

Most bondholders and investment experts disagree with your claim that passage of this bill would be bad for holders of Puerto Rico's $70 billion in public debt.

I want to use my time not to explain this simple bill or to itemize the many reasons why it is good policy, but rather to underscore the broad support it has attained.

You are basically saying that we are well intentioned, but wrong, that we are not actually acting in Puerto Rico's best interest, but that your clients are.

I have candidly told Attorney General Holder and FBI Director Comey that the Department must do more.

Make no mistake, the effect of these enhanced efforts can be measured in lives saved.

I have placed great pressure on DOJ and DHS to increase the level of resources dedicated to Puerto Rico.