Each year, 26 Federal agencies award over half a trillion dollars in grant funding. Earlier this year, Congress significantly changed the manner in which the Federal Government allocates funding. In the past, State and local governments…

The 2010 census confirmed that Hispanics are a growing part of the American family. There are now more than 50 million Latinos in the United States, accounting for more than half of the Nation's population growth between 2000 and 2010…

Government's most solemn obligation is to protect the people it serves. Since 9/11 our government has rightly placed much of its attention on defending the American people from terrorism. But we should not forget that government has a…

The United States stands at a crossroads. Responsible leaders recognize that a bipartisan fiscal strategy must be crafted to reduce deficits. A deal will require courage on the part of its proponents, because each revenue raiser and…

I want to thank the gentleman from Florida for his kind words and for the commitment he has made to ensure that Puerto Rico is not overlooked in the deliberations about the Essential Air Service program. I cannot overstate the importance…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 40, after line 21, insert the following (and redesignate subsequent sections, and conform the table of…

The Essential Air Service program, enacted in the wake of airline deregulation in 1978, ensures that smaller communities that were served by air carriers before deregulation continue to be served so that residents of these communities can…

I will simply say I will have some time to consider your offer to work with you on my other amendment, which is not now on the floor. But until then I simply urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my…

I thank the gentleman from Florida, even though he rises in opposition. I'm pleased that as the chairman of the committee of jurisdiction, he's supporting this amendment. So under these circumstances, I just ask him if he has any further…

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 161, line 18, strike ``Alaska and Hawaii'' and insert ``Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico''. Page 164…

I offer this amendment to codify the method by which the Secretary of Transportation is to allocate annual formula grants to airports in Puerto Rico for capital development and planning. The amendment is simple and straightforward and…

Isn't it justified to have a third center for the Caribbean, where four million American citizens reside?

I introduced legislation by the way, a bill recently, and it was supported by the Ranking Member Markey to direct NOAA to set up a center in the Caribbean located in Mia West, and minimize the expense.

I am also troubled by the proposed reductions in funding for the coastal zone management grants, and for the National Estuarine Research Reserves, one of which is Jobos Bay located in Puerto Rico.

I will note that I am concerned, however, about reductions to law enforcement that are contained in the Service's budget.

I am encouraged by the work the Service is undertaking in the Caribbean region, particularly across the seven wildlife refuges within Puerto Rico.

I want to associate myself with the views admitted for the record by Governor de Jongh from the U.S. Virgin Islands regarding the unfunded Insular Energy Program.

I look forward to working with you and the other distinguished Members of the Subcommittee in developing effective measures to foster the social, economic, and institutional development of the U.S. Virgin Islands and other Insular Areas of…