Political Quotes

“I urge support of the amendments en bloc, and I yield back the balance of my time. Miss GONZALEZ-COLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of en bloc package number two for the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022. This bill includes three amendments that were submitted by my office and will directly benefit the people of Puerto Rico and our Nation's security. Amendment 162 requires the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences for the purpose of investigating the health effects on the island Municipality of Vieques that may have been caused by toxic waste left after nearly 70 years of live fire training. This waste includes heavy metals like lead, cancer-causing fuel chemicals, and even depleted uranium. In some locations, areas are so contaminated that it is not safe for workers to collect samples. While there are numerous studies from different government agencies on this topic, including from the Centers for Disease Control and Government Accountability Office, much work remains to be done to further understand the consequences from this practice. I am proud to say that this legislation now builds upon existing research for this important topic. Amendment number 163 prohibits the Secretary of Defense from retiring the Landing Craft ships used by Puerto Rico's Army National Guard until such time as an adequate replacement is provided.…”