Political Quotes

“I am disappointed that two amendments I offered yesterday at the Rules Committee were not made in order for debate on H.R. 5278, the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). These amendments, along with amendments offered by Rep. Kilili Sablan of the Northern Mariana Islands on the Earned Income Tax Credit and Rep. Amata Radewagen of American Samoa on the Child Tax Credit, would have addressed underlying issues that are experienced in all the territories and that contributed to Puerto Rico's debt crisis. We had a chance to address legacy policy issues that unduly put a significant financial strain on our local treasuries, yet we were denied an opportunity to more fully debate these issues and be afforded an up or down vote. My first amendment would have granted the government of Guam flexibility to extend Social Security to all new government hires. The Government of Guam's (GovGuam) current retirement plan will leave many without sufficient means when they retire. As you know, the pension shortfall in Puerto Rico was a key contributor to its current fiscal crisis and local leaders in Guam are working proactively to enact legislation to prevent a similar situation in Guam. Part of their efforts is contingent on enrolling employees in Social Security, and my amendment would give GovGuam flexibility to enroll new hires in Social Security as it works to address retirement shortfalls for its current workforce.…”