Raúl Grijalva

My bill the Environmental Justice Act of 2021 codifies Executive Order 12898 on environmental justice.

This bill is included in the CLEAN Future Act under section 602 and 510.

True environmental justice means that our Government is looking out for these communities with the same intensity as they would for those with money, access, and power.

Consider as constitutionally viable only to start holding hearings on how the American Citizens residents of Puerto Rico can have equal rights and government by the consent of the governed.

No one in Puerto Rico wants independence, nor continue to be confused with political status alternatives which do not fit within the U.S. constitutional framework.

On November 3, 2020, an undisputable majority of 53% of Puerto Rico's voters demanded change in a locally sponsored referendum calling for full democracy and equality through statehood.

Congress must immediately end its inherently colonial territorial rule over Puerto Rico, because it violates America's values of democracy, equal justice under the law, and government by the consent of the governed.

H.R. 1522's legitimacy was not manufactured politically, behind closed doors, but is the product of democracy itself, by the voice of our people.

The Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act, H.R. 1522 and S. 780, directly respond to that mandate, and we urge you to support it and help get it approved as soon as possible.

Last November, voters stood up to change that when an absolute majority of 53% demanded statehood in a locally sponsored referendum.

If you support this process, you are not acknowledging the clear cut decision that was made in November.

There will be a significant difference of opinion in the U.S. Senate.

Congress has a critical role in this decision, and how it is going to be made.

Congress has a moral, political, and legal obligation to resolve Puerto Rico's political status.

I have no doubt presidents would be visiting, candidates for president would be visiting.

The U.S.-Puerto Rico political relationship has been the subject of past discussion in this Committee.

I want to begin by thanking my colleagues for taking the time to join us for this Full Committee hearing to discuss legislation to resolve Puerto Rico's political status.

This `D minus' rating, I think, further presses the effort we need to undertake to address the historic need and inequity related to Puerto Rico and its residents in terms of the support American citizens in Puerto Rico deserve and merit…

I will continue advocating for equity in Federal assistance under the Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid.

Two pieces of legislation have been introduced this Congress to resolve Puerto Rico's political status.

We must work effectively together with the executive branch and the island's elected officials through this process.

Congress has a responsibility to play a constructive role in the resolution of Puerto Rico's political status.

A Representative in Congress from the State of Arizona.

Your leadership in developing the Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2) to address our nation's failing infrastructure has been instrumental in laying the groundwork to Build Back Better.

I am not against those other regions, but we always hear that we need to reinvent our economy in the coalfields of central Appalachia.