I would also like to commend, in part, the intent behind the draft legislation we have before us today.

I am a strong proponent of liquefied natural gas, which provides cheap, clean, and reliable energy.

I have some concerns about the one-size-fits-all approach this bill takes in places.

We are literally sinking due to volcanic activity and seismic shifting.

It makes sense not to place all of our eggs in one basket, and alternate sources of energy play their part.

While having resources available to the U.S. insular areas is most welcome, I fear this bill does little to study existing programs and functions that could support some of the goals intended in this legislation.

I am hopeful today's hearing will help us reach bipartisan solutions as we move forward.

I fear that adding Puerto Rico to the definition of insular areas under Title 48 could have unintended consequences of an overhaul of how Federal grant programs work on the island.

I have been living in Puerto Rico since I was born. So, as an island that lays in the Caribbean, we are used to hurricanes.

We must prepare and have the resiliency to deal with this natural phenomena when they occur.

The mitigation is a big issue, and how we met with those situation, I think the Army Corps of Engineers has been working in Puerto Rico.

I can report that Puerto Rico does want to be a State of the Union, and it wants equality and democracy within the United States.

The only way for a territory to obtain broader representation in Congress, equal or otherwise, or in electing a President is to become a State or for the Constitution to be amended.

The United States is history's greatest democracy, but it has never been a perfect democracy.

The rights to vote and to be equally represented in the government that make one's laws and to have elections conducted thoroughly are the most fundamental and essential elements of democracy.

The transformation of Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, or PREPA as we know it, is long overdue.

Resident Commissioner Gonzalez asked PREPA to submit a list detailing all Federal funds appropriated and utilized by PREPA to date.

I am just asking the Committee to submit those documents to Mr. Ortiz as well as the Ranking Member.

I just want to highlight bipartisan legislation I introduced that could help Puerto Rico's energy transformation.

Thank you, Representative Graves for yielding and actually for visiting the island after Hurricane Maria and Irma and helping us out.

If enacted, this bill will create not just jobs, but hours of energy needs and the prices in the territories.

The bill will amend Federal law to study the potential for an authorized offshore wind energy development in the exclusive economic zone adjacent to the five U.S. territories.

I have long argued that private partnership investment is crucial to transform Puerto Rico's energy system if properly executed.

We must also ensure funding allocated in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria is no longer delayed by bureaucratic processes.

the Puerto Rico government entities receiving disaster aid from Federal agencies.