Pedro Pierluisi

I introduced legislation by the way, a bill recently, and it was supported by the Ranking Member Markey to direct NOAA to set up a center in the Caribbean located in Mia West, and minimize the expense.

Isn't it justified to have a third center for the Caribbean, where four million American citizens reside?

I would also like to remind you that our U.S. citizens living in the offshore Territories of the United States face unique challenges posed by our geographic isolation, our historic under development, and our constitutional status.

I am encouraged by the work the Service is undertaking in the Caribbean region, particularly across the seven wildlife refuges within Puerto Rico.

I commend the Administration's efforts to increase its request for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Programs and for making other strategic choices to protect American jobs, and to preserve sustainable industries including hunting…

I will note that I am concerned, however, about reductions to law enforcement that are contained in the Service's budget.

I want to associate myself with the views admitted for the record by Governor de Jongh from the U.S. Virgin Islands regarding the unfunded Insular Energy Program.

I look forward to working with you and the other distinguished Members of the Subcommittee in developing effective measures to foster the social, economic, and institutional development of the U.S. Virgin Islands and other Insular Areas of…

If these cuts were to remain unchanged, it would mean that the Office of Insular Affairs would not be able to award any more Technical Assistance grants for the remaining seven months of this fiscal year.

I would respectfully urge this Subcommittee to work closely with the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development to appropriate necessary funds under the Insular Energy Program in FY 2012 and beyond.

I am also interested in the Service's research to conserve manatees in both Florida and Puerto Rico.

Let us not forget we are also a nation of immigrants. While we have every right to regulate immigration, enforce our immigration laws, it makes no sense to demonize immigrants in America.

If the rule or the law is not working, you change it.

I am compelled to respond to remarks delivered yesterday on this floor by my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois, in which he harshly criticized the duly elected government of Puerto Rico and the island's chief Federal judge. The speech…

Sensible worksite enforcement designed to identify and penalize those employers who violate Federal law is one important aspect of our Nation's approach to immigration policy.

As my colleagues and I travel around our Nation, we hear a consistent message from the American people: Fix our broken immigration system by enacting comprehensive reform.

However, unless we do more, an enforcement-only approach will hurt the economy and cost American jobs over the long term.

I will be brief. Let me just say that there are 435 Members of this House; there are five Delegates representing the territories. Each and every one of these districts and the territories has its own peculiar needs, and the Members should…

I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. I requested $150,000 to purchase equipment for a community and recreational park for low-income children in Yauco, Puerto Rico, a city in the southwestern part of the island. The park will be…

58 years ago this Sunday, the Constitution of Puerto Rico took effect. As we mark this occasion, it is appropriate to reflect on the progress that Puerto Rico has made in fulfilling the aspirations expressed in our Constitution and to…

H.R. 2499 creates 'an artificial majority for statehood' because the territorial 'Commonwealth' option is, or was not competing directly with the other options.

The proposed constitution is not merely a legal document; it is, however flawed, a symbol of the Virgin Islands' right to self-determination.

The purpose of the bill is straightforward. What Congress is doing is authorizing the Government of Puerto Rico to conduct one or more plebiscites in which the people of Puerto Rico will be able to express their views regarding the…

H.R. 2499 is a bill about democracy, as the title suggests. It deals with the right of self-determination, and Congress doing the right thing.

It was approved in a strong bipartisan vote at a time that we all know bipartisanship is in short supply.