Jenniffer González-Colón

Puerto Rico will have the opportunity to be admitted as a State of the Union.

Now that a majority of Puerto Ricans have definitively spoken, the most appropriate response for Congress is to act on their will.

To uphold the will of Americans in the last plebiscite, Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), alongside Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL), file H.R. 1522 to provide for the admission of the State of Puerto Rico.

The Self-Determination Act is a flawed and contradictory bill.

I just want to thank the witnesses for joining us, particularly the witnesses Dr. Ponsa-Kraus from Columbia University and Professor Cordova.

Are we going to ignore the will of voters in Puerto Rico, and pretend that we know better than them? Or are we going to stand with our fellow citizens on the Island and respect their vote for full equality, for statehood?

The other bill, H.R. 2070, blatantly ignores the will of the people of Puerto Rico.

H.R. 1522 will constitute Congress' response to my constituents on the island.

H.R. 1522, the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act, recognizes and respects that Puerto Rico has--through the ballot box--exercised its right to self-determination.

The so-called parity is not equality, and it is not a permanent solution.

Puerto Rico has, through the ballot box, exercised its right to self-determination, rejected the current territorial status, and voted for statehood.

As the island's sole representative in Congress, I have introduced multiple bills to achieve this and will continue to advance these efforts.

Are we going to ignore the will of the voters on the island and pretend that we know better than them?

We must respect Puerto Rico's vote and support H.R. 1522, because statehood will guarantee full and permanent equality for the 3.2 million citizens living on the island.

Gonzalez-Colon, Hon. Jenniffer, a Resident Commissioner in Congress from the Territory of Puerto Rico.

WRD would like to thank the Committee for hosting a hearing on this important issue.

It has become clear that NAP is one of the first programs my constituents turn to during the aftermath of an emergency or crisis.

NAP is one of the top assistance programs for needy constituents on the Island.

I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 2011, known as the WIC Act of 2021, which would expand eligibility and address specific gaps in nutritional assistance for postpartum women and young children.

I respectfully request you continue working alongside my office as we develop a path towards a viable transition to SNAP.

True relief and proper assistance can only be achieved with a transition to SNAP.

The program cannot automatically accommodate sudden increases in demand and, as a result, we have to turn to Congress.

NAP cannot automatically adjust to fluctuations in demand, including those related to emergencies.

Puerto Rico does not participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, like their counterparts in the states.

I will also submit to the record other further questions.