Pedro Pierluisi

I want to thank you for holding the 'Puerto Rico's Post-Disaster Reconstruction & Power Grid Development' hearing last week.

We respectfully ask this Committee and Congress to help us address some additional challenges that we are facing in our ongoing post-disaster reconstruction.

We would like to be included in the SNAP program, and we are requesting that. It is only fair that we get the same nutrition assistance as our fellow American citizens in the States.

a critical aspect of Fiona's recovery is the grid stabilization plan announced this week.

The American citizens of Puerto Rico did not come to us after these disasters with their hands out.

We are coming here to be treated the same as our fellow American citizens.

I am confident that we could reach that goal by 2025, because there are a lot of projects in the pipeline.

I will try to be brief, but----

There is oversight on LUMA from so many quarters.

I am disappointed that PREPA and the Energy Bureau are not here today.

We still need to improve them is the answer that I can give you.

I am not going to allow PREPA to end up with a debt burden that is going to end up causing extraordinary increases, unacceptable increases, in the cost of electricity in Puerto Rico.

Having a plan of adjustment confirmed by the Federal court is absolutely essential, because it would stabilize PREPA's finances.

We need to improve our energy system so we don't have this power disruption for so long after a major disaster.

We proved that when you treat us equally, we can do as well or better than anybody in the States.

Congress should call for a vote on the political future of Puerto Rico and commit to implementing the will of the majority.

Well, one thing FEMA is doing is actually funding a public affairs campaign, public education campaign, encouraging people to build up to code.

I am pleased to report that Puerto Rico is emerging from a challenging period with strength and optimism into a new era of stability evidenced by the island's economic upswing.

For about 3 years, the spending that happened in Puerto Rico was emergency spending by FEMA.

What is being done with the billions of dollars in aid? What are the plans? When will we see results?

The people of Puerto Rico voted and chose permanent union with the United States through statehood as their path forward.

LUMA is represented at this hearing, so you can ask them directly.

The debt needs to be the lower the better.

I am not going to support any restructuring that is not sustainable, that is not affordable.