I'm really excited to serve along with my colleagues in this Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

I'm excited to work on promoting STEM education.

I'm really glad to hear that. As you may be aware, there's a lot of astonishing accomplishment of that observatory for the last 50, 60 years, among them, many Pulitzer and even scientists that won the Nobel Prize for their research in that…

I think it's more critical than ever that NASA continue to lead in the fundamental research that will help the U.S. aerospace sector remain competitive.

I am the only representative for the 3.2 million American citizens living there.

we will never recover from that.

In the past, the National Marine Fisheries Service has concluded that seismic surveying poses no significant threat to marine life.

Has the National Marine Fisheries Service found any new evidence since 2014 to conclude that seismic surveying significantly threatens the North Atlantic right whale and other marine species?

I want to express the same solidarity with our brothers and sisters from Nebraska.

I know he is not running for reelection after yesterday's announcement in the family, having the Parkinson's disease. But he has been a great advocate for the people of Puerto Rico for many, many years.

I really appreciate to have the time today to express our requests coming from Puerto Rico.

We are pushing for the $600 million for the disaster bill that are included specifically for NAP for a year.

I think we all agree that privatization is the only option to the future for the energy grid on the island.

I do believe that the Department of Energy does not want to take PREPA to manage it.

We need to provide also not just the resources, but the technology, and the assistance in order to provide transparency to the process that has been taken in PREPA.

Can we assure that the people will not need to pay for any rate increase in order to have any kind of electricity reorganization on the island?

we have to have the appropriate reforms to go along with it.

All sides in Puerto Rico have agreed that an obsolete and expensive energy system is the obstacle to economic progress on the island.

I do believe in privatization of the electric power authority of the island. We need to move forward.

Because one thing is actually finding the money, getting that money approved, but when are we going to see some kind of improvement in the plans, some kind of improvement in the power grid of the island?

One of the things that creates the most public unease in any electricity reorganization in Puerto Rico is the people will have to pay for a rate increase to guarantee any profitability.

the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) suffers chronic staffing challenges that at times complicate the delivery of proper and timely care.

I think having veterans serving veterans is the first thing. Saving taxpayers money is the second biggest implementation of this bill.

I hope that we can work together on H.R. 5864 to ensure that our nation's veterans are being provided the best possible care from VA employees.

I do support it. And as you just said in your written statement, I do believe that you are in support of it.