This bill seeks to further close the gap between transitioning members and the VA by helping them occupy positions currently in demand.

I do support Mr. Higgins' bill.

These challenges are often exacerbated by a time-consuming hiring process.

Employment after separating from the military is beneficial for veterans from a psychological and financial perspective.

In the case of the territories, we never receive the same amount of funds in proportion with the rest of the states.

The recovery of Puerto Rico's electric infrastructure has been a challenge for a variety of reasons.

I thank you for being with us today on this very important hearing.

I am pleased that we are joined here today by Representative Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon from Puerto Rico.

I have 52 percent of my workforce is Puerto Ricans right now. I am going to try to get to 90 percent by the 1-year anniversary.

I actually filed a bill with Congressman Espaillat that addressed this issue.

So one of the main problems we got is PREPA don't got the money to buy the materials.

What do we need to make a plan for a 30-day re-powering of the island?

I know the situation, and I will--this will be to EPA.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And with that, I want to begin this saying thank you to you, Chairman DeSantis and Ranking Member Lynch, for agreeing to have this very important hearing on Puerto Rico and agreeing to have this meeting on the…

My concern with that is that you are downsizing the group of the crew of your private contractors on the island.

FEMA has to, and as we have heard here, is willing and needs to the support of Congress to streamline the processes so that results and support can get to the people.

I just urge you to reconsider the downsizing of the Army Corps on the island.

I do ask unanimous consent, Mr. Chairman, to allow a letter that I just sent to Commanding General Semonite and District Commander Jason Kirk to the Army Corps of Engineers asking them to extend the mission of the U.S. Army Corps and the…

We are talking about 5 or 6 months waiting for power, not to account the hundreds of people with diseases or medical conditions that require for them to get a generator or have power in their houses.

Restoring electrical power to Puerto Rico has been our collective priority since the day Hurricane Maria exited the Island.

I want to first of all thank the people from the Army Corps of Engineers and the people from FEMA for all their hard work they have been doing on the island.

I look forward to an effective communication with the USACE team to make sure that Puerto Rico's needs are addressed.

It has been more than 5 months now that since we saw an event that none of us expected to see in American soil in our lifetimes.

According to FEMA and to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this has been the biggest mission to restore utilities in those agencies' history.

I also want to thank you for your unconditional assistance to our sole representative in Congress, the Honorable Jenniffer Gonzalez.