Congressional Record, House, March 2, 2022, Page H1267
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, House, dated March 2, 2022, at page H1267. A speaker says that overdose deaths rose from 47,000 a year to 100,000 people and criticizes President Biden for not talking about fentanyl, and the Speaker pro tempore reminds Members to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President. Ms. Jackson Lee, in a one-minute speech headed Congress Must Unify and Stand for the American People, speaks about the President's address the previous evening. Miss González-Colón then commemorates the 105th anniversary of granting U.S. citizenship to the people of Puerto Rico and says full equality for the island's two million Americans can only be achieved through statehood. The remarks are the speakers' own.
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“Congressional Record, House, March 2, 2022, Page H1267.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-03-02-crec-2022-03-02-pt1-pgh1267-2-7da83675dc/
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March 2, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1267
I got this job only 7 years ago. At the So we are here. We are going to con- There was no objection.
time, 47,000 people a year died of drug tinue to work on this side of the aisle Miss GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN. Madam
overdoses. By comparison, in 12 years to fix these problems, and we look for- Speaker, I rise today joined by a good
during the Vietnam war, 57,000 people ward to the election cycle this fall group of colleagues and legislators here
died. And every politician was supposed where we believe the fortunes around in the House to commemorate the
to talk about it. Now we shoot up from here are going to change pretty sub- 105th anniversary of granting U.S. citi-
47,000 to 100,000 people, and President stantially. zenship to the people of Puerto Rico
Biden can’t even bring himself to talk Madam Speaker, I thank my col- and to reaffirm our commitment to full
about fentanyl, the drug responsible leagues for being here tonight, and I equality for the island’s two million
for most of those deaths. yield back the balance of my time. Americans, which can only be achieved
I don’t know why he wouldn’t talk The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem- through statehood.
about fentanyl. My guess is because bers are reminded to refrain from en- Many people will ask how long has
overwhelmingly it is coming across the gaging in personalities toward the Puerto Rico been part of the United
southern border, and he doesn’t want President. States? Before the Spanish-American
to do anything about the southern bor- War, Puerto Rico was part of Spain.
der. However, I would hope in the fu- f After the Spanish-American War we be-
ture, President Biden would meet with CONGRESS MUST UNIFY AND came a possession, a territory of the
law enforcement around the country, STAND FOR THE AMERICAN PEO- United States in 1898.
find out what it is like to have to tell PLE In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt
the parents or siblings or children of called on Congress to confer American
the people who have died that their rel- (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was citizenship to Puerto Ricans. Legisla-
ative has died. That is a horrible thing. given permission to address the House tion was introduced to that effect be-
And I think to gloss over the 100,000 for 1 minute.) tween 1912 and 1913, which was sup-
deaths we have every year in this coun- Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, ported by President William Howard
try—twice the number of people who last evening the President of the Taft and then the Wilson administra-
died in the 12 years in Vietnam—was I United States was strong, and he was tion. President Wilson had even cam-
thought very callous. But, again, I clear to stay away from divisive rhet- paigned in 1912 on a promise to ensure
would encourage President Biden to oric. But do my friends on the other U.S. citizenship for Puerto Ricans.
ask members of his administration to side of the aisle realize that anything On this day, March 2nd, President
get out and about a little bit, talk to that has not been accomplished is be- Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones-
relatives of people who have died of cause they have been obstructionists? Shafroth Act, which extended statu-
drug overdoses, particularly fentanyl, The Wall Street Journal says that tory U.S. citizenship to the residents of
and maybe it will cause him to devote the President and his American Rescue the island.
a little bit more time on that in next Plan has led to less damage, and it is The Jones-Shafroth Act would not be
year’s State of the Union address when the biggest and best recovery, at least the last time Congress acted on a ques-
he realizes what a horrible situation we in the past 50 years. It has had the tion of citizenship. In 1940, the Nation-
have. least economic impact in terms of ality Act conferred birthright citizen-
There are many other things that I long-term unemployment, weak label ship to persons born in Puerto Rico.
don’t think were addressed accurately markers, inexperienced workers, evic- The signing of the 1917 law cemented
or in depth during the State of the tions and foreclosures. President our relationship as an integral part of
Union address that should have been. Biden’s American Rescue Plan has led the United States.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam to less of that than any recovery in the For 150 years, Puerto Ricans have
Speaker, I thank Mr. GROTHMAN. That last 50 years. been proud American citizens, and we
was well said. There is lot. We know We know that in Ukraine it is a dis- have contributed greatly to this coun-
you can go all night because there was aster. People are dying. It is Putin’s try in every field of endeavor. We even
a lot to complain about. war, but the President has brought have Supreme Court judges, a lot of en-
Madam Speaker, tonight you have NATO together. trepreneurs, and many others in many
heard the response of so many of my And, yes, if we could pass Build Back areas. We proudly uphold and defend
Republican colleagues to the lack- Better, which they have obstructed, we the ideals that define our Nation, in-
luster State of the Union address that would be able to have childcare for all cluding more than 235,000 Puerto
was held here last evening. Perhaps the of America. Ricans who have honorably served in
most glaring problem with his speech So I wanted to just, for this one mo- the U.S. Armed Forces fighting side-
is that the President tried to ignore ment, get on the floor to say in all that by-side with our fellow citizens from
the fact that it is his lack of leadership they have said, why don’t they take the States.
that is what has created this dangerous the call of the President? Let’s unify Yet, despite our contributions, de-
situation that we are all in right now. and stand for the American people. spite a longstanding commitment to
All the crises you have heard about, Stop complaining, and let’s get to the values that come with being an
the American people know the facts. work. President Biden called us to American citizen, the reality is that we
I grew up in the seventies and work as a strong America. are still not equal. That is the reality
eighties. I was a child of the Reagan of Puerto Ricans every day. And then
era, and we remember in the Cold War f
you have 3.2 million Americans living
he reminded us we maintain the peace FULL EQUALITY FOR PUERTO on the island and more than 5 million
through our strength. What he commu- RICO living on the mainland. That tells you
nicated to us so clearly is weakness in- that because of the current territorial
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under
vites aggression. We have projected status, Americans in Puerto Rico lack
weakness on the world stage, and it is the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan-
uary 4, 2021, the Chair recognizes the full voting representation in this Con-
inviting Russian aggression. We pray gress.
and hope that we do not get a similar gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss
GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN) for 30 minutes. For example, I can represent people
aggression from our other adversaries on this floor, but I cannot vote here for
like China, North Korea, Iran, and the GENERAL LEAVE
any measure that affects my island.
rest. Miss GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN. Madam
The only thing holding back terror- Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that b 1845
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ists and tyrants and dictators and all Members have 5 legislative days to I do the job of at least four Members
rogue operators around the globe is revise and extend their remarks and to of Congress. We do not have Senators
their perception of a strong America. include extraneous material on the that can be the voice of Puerto Rico
That is what we stand for. We wish we subject of this Special Order. because they are not elected on the is-
could have heard that from the Presi- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there land. Yet, we need to apply all Federal
dent in a more honest tone last night, objection to the request of the gentle- laws to the island but without having a
but we didn’t get it. woman from Puerto Rico? say or a vote on each of them.
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H1268 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 2, 2022
Our people cannot vote for our Presi- Alaska. They were asked the simple emption ended, my family moved to
dent, our Commander in Chief, and we question: Do you want to become a central Florida from Puerto Rico. They
have no say in the Federal decision- State of the Union, yes or no? were worried about the economic cli-
making process, which impacts every That same question was a ref- mate. They moved to central Florida
aspect of our lives. erendum we held locally in Puerto Rico for economic opportunity. My family
Even though we are U.S. citizens and by the local laws with that majority. up north, where I was raised, we soon
the Federal Government can and often To say that, this bill will make a for- followed and found ourselves in central
does treat the island unequally under mal offer of statehood, outlining a Florida.
Federal laws and programs, and while clear process to enable the island’s ad- We don’t want people to have to be
it is true that Congress could pass leg- mission into the Union, should it be forced to relocate because they are
islation today to address some of those ratified by Puerto Rican voters in a worried about economic prosperity.
disparities, it is similarly true that federally sponsored yes-or-no ref- That is already in our family history
any future Congress could undo such erendum. as well.
efforts. Having said that, I think it is time. Then you look at after that recession
When you revise our Constitution, It is long overdue that we resolve the coming in, then PROMESA, austerity
specifically, the territorial clause of Puerto Rican unfinished democracy measures, that would never happen to
the U.S. Constitution, Article IV, Sec- business. a State. The types of cuts to govern-
tion 3, it says specifically that: ‘‘The Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- ment, the type of attack on sov-
Congress shall have power to dispose of tleman from Florida (Mr. SOTO), our ereignty was terrible. We have many
and make all needful rules and regula- main sponsor on the Democrat side. pensioners who served as civil servants
Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank in Puerto Rico who now live in central
tions respecting the territory or other
the Resident Commissioner. Florida, places like Representative
property belonging to the United Madam Speaker, here is my partner
States.’’ DEMINGS’ and my districts and, I have
in equality in the Resident Commis- no doubt, in south Florida and
Yet, we are the most powerful Nation sioner JENNIFFER GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN.
on Earth still having a colony in the WASSERMAN SCHULTZ’ and SALAZAR’s
And she is not the only one. Florida is districts as well. So it affects us di-
Caribbean for more than 105 years. in the House tonight in support of
That is the reason. Because we are a rectly and indirectly.
you—Representative DEMINGS, Rep- Then we see, on top of that, Hurri-
territory, we will be always at Con- resentative WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Rep-
gress’ mercy. As a territory, we will cane Maria. What devastation, the
resentative SALAZAR. We are all here to highest death toll of any natural dis-
never truly enjoy the same rights and support our brothers and sisters back
responsibilities as our fellow citizens aster in modern American history. We
in my family’s native island. see how important it is to have rep-
in the States. This is a little bit about history
Only statehood can guarantee our resentation and how important it is to
today, 105 years of citizenship. You have fair treatment.
full equality as U.S. citizens. That is know, I checked on ancestry.com, and Then it has been the latest battles
why the people of Puerto Rico have the roots of my family back in Puerto over these last couple of years. You
voted to reject the current territorial Rico go back way further than they and I have fought together, along with
status, not once, not twice, three times could ever tell—on the Soto side and on our allies here, on everything from
in a row. To be admitted as a State of the Casanova side—with a few coming food assistance to Medicaid to finally
the Union, most recently in November in the mid-1800s from the Canary Is- getting Puerto Rico treated equally in
2020 when a clear majority, an absolute lands, but the rest back further than the American Rescue Plan, to finally
majority of the people, 73 percent of you can uncover through the internet. getting the people of Puerto Rico
the people who voted in that election, When Teddy Roosevelt comes up on treated equally in infrastructure.
of those 73 percent of the people who that San Juan Hill and you have the But those battles will continue if we
voted, 53 percent voted for statehood. Spanish-American War, my relatives, do not resolve the territorial status.
That is an absolute majority. my ancestors, were already there for That is why I was honored to co-intro-
You don’t have any delegates. You an unknown and distant amount of duce our bill, together with our friends,
don’t have any mail. This is direct time. to admit Puerto Rico as a State, after
votes, in-person votes of the people of I also see Representative WILD. Rep- a binding plebiscite, of course.
the island asking for statehood. Even resentative WILD, thank you for being I feel very good about where we are
statehood got more votes than any pol- here as well from Pennsylvania. Penn- headed, to a bipartisan vote on the
itician on the island. Statehood got sylvania is in the House. floor and putting forward a bill that
more votes than any political party on When I think about the turn of the the Senators can vote for.
the island. That means that is the big- 20th century, my ancestors, some of This is about making sure, as we see
gest consensus ever on the island, three whom I got to meet, like my great- tyranny attacks of democracy versus
times in a row. grandmother, Altagracia Casanova, autocracy in Ukraine and, frankly, in
As we commemorate the 105th anni- who still farmed by the time I was a so many places around the Caribbean,
versary of our American citizenship, it little kid in Sabana Hoyos in Puerto Central and South America, this is
is crucial that Congress act to end Rico, they became citizens by statute. where we can take a stand in the Carib-
Puerto Rico’s undemocratic territorial Then my great-grandparents, they had bean for democracy and give our broth-
status and to respond to a vote for draft cards. They went and served in ers and sisters back on the island the
equality through statehood. World War I. The first shots of World opportunity to forge your own des-
I am proud to have partnered with War I were fired off the coast of San tinies, and your Florida Rican brothers
Congressman DARREN SOTO, our broth- Juan as the Germans attempted to and sisters are with you.
er from Florida, to introduce bipar- enter the Caribbean. Miss GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN. Madam
tisan legislation to achieve this using From there, we saw my grandparents Speaker, I say thank you to our main
H.R. 1522, the Puerto Rico Statehood stationed in places in the Caribbean in sponsor. I will say, I don’t have the
Admission Act, that will make a for- South America during World War II. vote here in the House so I depend on
mal offer of statehood. We know of the great, famed all Members of the House to support
Never before has Congress even asked Borinqueneers serving in all of those Puerto Rico in many ways.
the people of Puerto Rico whether we wars together, as well as Korea. In that sense, I will be always grate-
want to continue as a territorial colo- This citizenship has been earned, en- ful, DARREN, for your commitment and
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nial status or we want to achieve state- couraged, and in blood, in contribu- your help.
hood or independence. tions in science and art and manufac- Madam Speaker, I recognize now a
This will be the first time ever this turing and in so many other ways that dear friend from Florida as well who is
question will be made to the people on have made this such a great United here.
the island coming from Congress in a States of America. Before recognizing her, I recognize a
binding process—same thing happened But it is the recent history that I am former Member of the House and cur-
in Hawaii, same thing happened in most concerned about. After the 936 ex- rent Governor of Puerto Rico. Pedro
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March 2, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1269
Pierluisi is here on the floor of the showing the beauty and diversity of Yet, amidst the celebration, it is also
House. Thank you, Governor, for sup- our great country to the rest of the an acknowledgement that for too long
porting this. world. we have treated Puerto Rico and her
Madam Speaker, this is a bipartisan For that reason, I thank my very residents as second-class citizens with
issue. You won’t find any other bill good friend, mi amiga, Resident Com- laws and policies that put them at a
that will have bipartisan support. This missioner JENNIFFER GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN, real disadvantage. The residents of
is not a Republican issue. This is not a for her leadership on this floor. She is Puerto Rico, more than 3 million
Democratic issue. This is the cost of a relentless champion for the island’s strong, pay Federal taxes, are U.S. citi-
equal rights. This is civil rights. This future, for what the island deserves, zens with U.S. passports and U.S. cur-
is democracy. and for what we need to see for the fu- rency, and they have long served brave-
Madam Speaker, I cannot find a bet- ture of Puerto Rico. ly in our military, just ask any
ter person to speak about that than my Miss GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN. Thank Borinqueneer who fought valiantly in
good friend from Miami, Congress- you, Maria Elvira. You touched my the Korean war.
woman SALAZAR. heart with those words. Yet, the people of Puerto Rico con-
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen-
tinue to be denied equal rights, includ-
tlewoman from Florida (Ms. SALAZAR). tlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms.
ing voting representation in the United
Ms. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I WILD).
Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I am States Congress. This inequality has
thank the Resident Commissioner. real consequences. As we saw so vividly
Madam Speaker, for over 120 years, proud to rise today on behalf of the
more than 80,000 Puerto Rican con- in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria,
Puerto Rico, as we have said here, has Puerto Rico faced injustices that no
enriched the United States with its stituents who call my district, Penn-
sylvania’s Greater Lehigh Valley, U.S. State would ever endure.
culture and its people. These inequities exist not only when
The beautiful island of Puerto Rico home.
My community would not be what it it comes to recovery assistance, it can
that I know so well is the jewel of the be seen in tax and Medicare inequities.
Caribbean. Millions of Americans have is without the contributions of the
Puerto Rican community. The United Put simply, these disparities are un-
flocked to its beaches and rainforests American. A stronger political voice
to soak in the incredible natural beau- States would not be what it is without
the contributions of this community. can help remedy that.
ty of the island of Puerto Rico. Today, I stand in solidarity with my
With that background, 105 years ago, Every aspect of our national legacy,
our cultural and artistic heritage, our colleagues in calling for what has been
as we have heard before, Puerto Ricans
groundbreaking discoveries in science long overdue: statehood for Puerto
became citizens of this great country,
and technology, the dynamism of our Rico.
the United States. Puerto Ricans are
economy, and the strength of our In 2020, Puerto Ricans voted over-
true Americans and true patriots be-
Armed Forces has been shaped indeli- whelmingly in support of statehood.
cause over 35,000 of them currently
bly by these fellow citizens. The Puerto Rican people should be
serve in the United States Armed
b 1900 given a chance to cast a vote where
Forces.
Madam Speaker, 235,000 Puerto those results will be respected. Now is
And yet despite their service, resi- the time for us to listen loudly and
Ricans are veterans who have served dents of the island cannot vote for the
alongside their fellow countrymen clearly to the calls from the Puerto
Commander in Chief. They lack voting Rican people. It is a matter of civil
from the mainland, from the beaches of representation in Congress. And de-
Normandy to the Mekong Delta. Its rights both on the island and in the
spite paying into programs like Medi- greater diaspora.
people, the Puerto Ricans, have made care and Medicaid, they do not have eq-
the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Legislators on both sides of the aisle
uitable coverage under these programs. understand how crucial it is that we
freedom and in the name of the United I am here to deliver a clear message.
States of America. fully support this effort, and I am
As United States citizens, the people of
I should say that Puerto Rico holds a proud to work with my friend,
Puerto Rico have the right to full rep-
very special place in my heart because JENNIFFER GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN, and was
resentation in their government. This
after my parents fled Castro’s Cuba, proud to work for many years with her
is a principle at the very core of our
my family found refuge in San Juan, predecessor, now Governor, Pedro
Nation’s founding. It should not be
the capital of the island of Puerto Pierluisi. Today is proof of that.
controversial, and, in fact, it is widely
Rico. Because of that decision, I spent accepted among Americans of both po- Puerto Ricans have made their desire
a fantastic childhood in the island be- litical parties. for statehood clear, and Congress must
cause we went to live in paradise in the In fact, my colleague who has gath- follow suit. I will continue fighting for
1960s. ered us all here today and who has in- statehood to ensure that every citi-
It was in Puerto Rico where I first troduced the Puerto Rico Statehood zen’s voice is heard and to give respect
learned about American values. It was Admission Act is a Republican. Thank to the Puerto Rican people that is long
in Puerto Rico where I learned the you for having me. Today, the 105th an- overdue.
meaning behind the American flag and niversary of the date when the people As we commemorate this 105th anni-
the central value of freedom and lib- of Puerto Rico became United States versary of citizenship for Puerto
erty. citizens must mark the moment when Ricans, let us remember that Puerto
Puerto Ricans received the Cuban we finally begin the work of passing Rican statehood is a long overdue step
exile community with open arms. That legislation to give the people in Puerto toward equality and democracy for all.
is why today I take this opportunity Rico a long overdue voice and a vote in You cannot have true equality without
from the floor of the United States their future. full representation. We will be a better
Congress, as a Congresswoman for the Miss GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN. Madam and stronger Nation when we include
city of Miami, the heart of the Cuban Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman Puerto Rico as our 51st State.
exile community in the United States. from Florida (Ms. WASSERMAN Miss GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN. Madam
I thank the Puerto Ricans for their SCHULTZ). Speaker, I would like to recognize at
noble act of welcoming millions and Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. this time and yield to the gentlewoman
millions of Cubans to the island and Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand from Florida (Mrs. DEMINGS).
giving them the possibility of living in today with my friends and colleagues Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, we
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freedom, in peace, and living in para- as we mark the 105th anniversary since are a government of the people, by the
dise. United States citizenship was granted people, and for the people, but our
Puerto Ricans have welcomed people to the people of Puerto Rico. In many brothers and sisters, our fellow Ameri-
from around the world to visit paradise ways, today is a joyous day in recogni- cans on the island of Puerto Rico are
and the Caribbean on American soil, tion of the decades of activism under- not recognized as a government by the
the best of both worlds. Today, Puerto taken by our Puerto Rican sisters and people. Puerto Rican Americans re-
Ricans are American ambassadors, brothers. ceived citizenship 105 years ago today.
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H1270 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 2, 2022
If we are going to truly be the land of week we have 300 more that are already CURRENT BORDER INSECURITY
the free, we must make good on Amer- in Poland with the current situation in The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under
ica’s promise to be a government of the Ukraine. That is the patriotism Puerto the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan-
people for all people. We need to be Ricans feel about this Nation. uary 4, 2021, the Chair recognizes the
who we say we are. We need to be the Why do all those soldiers never re- gentleman from Ohio (Mr. DAVIDSON)
country where every voice and every ceive the same benefits from being in for 30 minutes.
person matters. For over a century, the the military when they come back Mr. DAVIDSON. Madam Speaker, I
residents of Puerto Rico have been home? Why should they be treated dif- have requested this time to address
treated as second-class citizens within ferently with even programs that do part of the State of the Union that was
our country. It is un-American and it not apply to them? And they cannot not addressed last night. In fact, we
is unjust. vote for the Commander in Chief? Even saw that the President was so bold as
Second-class citizens not only in this Congress gave the Congressional
to say that the border is secure and
their vote, but also in healthcare, sen- Medal of Honor to our Borinqueneers,
tout the fact that they have caught 2
ior assistance, and the Child Tax Cred- the 65th Regiment that fought in
million people at the border, as if that
it. This is wrong. Today, on the 105th Korea, but yet they cannot vote for
is success. That is what was said.
anniversary of the citizenship for Puer- their Commander in Chief.
What wasn’t said is what has been
to Rico, it is time for us to stand up, Over 1,200 U.S. citizens of Puerto
going on at the border for a long time
yet again, and declare that equal rights Rico have died while serving, paying
the ultimate sacrifice in defense of and has been made worse by the poli-
are an American value, and that fair- cies that Joe Biden and his administra-
ness and justice are American values, America’s freedom, while lacking full
voting representations and equality tion have put in place. Frankly, by the
and that the Americans on the island United States laws that he and his ad-
of Puerto Rico must have justice, must back home. Defending freedom, defend-
ing democracy around the world, but ministration have ignored, and that
have fair treatment, and must have Secretary Mayorkas enables every day
statehood. not having them back home.
Our island is proud and rich in the that he leads the Department of Home-
We fought this year to ensure that land Security down the wrong path for
the residents of Puerto Rico would tradition of military service. Today,
thousands of Puerto Ricans serve on our country.
start to receive equal treatment on So, we are here to talk about, stop
Federal programs like Social Security, Active Duty and Reserves and all
branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Ap- the cartels. We are introducing a bill
Medicare, and the Child Tax Credit. called the Stop the Cartels Act. We
proximately, 8,400 currently serve in
This fight is not over, and we are not spend so much time on the sympa-
the Puerto Rico Army National Guard,
giving up. thetic cause of immigration and we
Yet, even with the weight of this and since 9/11 they have carried out
over 16,000 deployments, more than 34 conflate border security with immigra-
fight for a century, I feel optimistic. In tion.
fact, I feel better than I ever have be- States in the Union.
Over 90,000 American veterans call We can have an incredibly secure bor-
fore. Puerto Ricans have spoken with a der regardless of our immigration pol-
Puerto Rico home. Unfortunately, de-
clear voice, with a fair and open vote, icy, and border security is, in fact, na-
spite our military contributions and
and demanded that it is time for full their honorable service on behalf of the tional security. The cartels pose a seri-
representation. Nation’s ideals, the current territorial ous threat to the United States of
I am grateful for the leadership of America. The products that they push
status hurts Puerto Rico’s veterans
Congresswoman GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN and in our communities have killed over
and servicemembers. It denies them
Congressman SOTO on this issue, and I 100,000 people.
the representation in the Senate and in
look forward to continuing the work in the House, and it denies them the right
Congress until we get this done. b 1915
to vote for the President. It perpet-
Miss GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN. Madam This past year, the leading cause of
uates the inequities of Federal laws
Speaker, how much time do I have re- death for 18 to 45 year olds is fatal
and programs which are detrimental to
maining? overdoses. The drugs are bad, but now
veterans in terms of economic oppor-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- they are poisoned with fentanyl, and
tunity, health, security, and quality of
tlewoman has 5 minutes remaining. we are not taking the threat seriously.
life.
Miss GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN. Madam So the first portion of the Stop the
Statehood for Puerto Rico and con-
Speaker, you heard many of the Mem- Cartels Act will focus on gathering in-
gressional action to end the territorial
bers of Congress supporting this quest status will benefit our veterans and the telligence.
of Puerto Rico’s civil rights and de- thousands of Puerto Ricans who cur- As we look at the country of Mexico,
mocracy rights to vote. Sometimes rently serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. our southern neighbor, it controls the
people forget the contributions people It will provide them real democracy whole land portion of our southern bor-
of Puerto Rico have made to this great through a vote and equal representa- der. That border is controlled by the
Nation, contributions that we feel tion in Congress; through the ability to cartels. I had Brandon Judd, the presi-
proud of, like the nine Puerto Rican elect their Commander in Chief; and dent of the Customs and Border Patrol
Medal of Honor recipients: Private through a permanent union with their Union, at a hearing that we had to
First Class Fernando Luis Garcia, Mas- fellow citizens in the States. have offsite because Speaker PELOSI
ter Sergeant Juan Negron, Private This is the time to respond for Puer- won’t have the hearing on the topic in
Demensio Rivera, Private Miguel to Rico. This is the right of the island any of our hearing rooms. She won’t
Armando Vera, Private First Class Car- to become part of this great Nation, let the committees of jurisdiction deal
los Lozada, Staff Sergeant Conde Fal- more than 105 years since being a terri- with it, so Republicans are forced to go
con, Captain Euripides Rubio, Spe- tory. This is the time for Congress to offsite to talk about this important
cialist Hector Santiago, Captain act. topic.
Humbert Roque, and I can speak about You have H.R. 1522, a bipartisan bill When I asked him: Who controls the
many others. with more than 79 cosponsors, Repub- border? You or the cartels? Do the car-
Historically, Puerto Rico has ranked licans and Democrats, asking for state- tels control the border more than you?
among the top U.S. jurisdictions in hood and equality. With that, state- He said: You are not putting words in
terms of per capita military service. It hood will address many of the inequi- my mouth. That is the exact point. The
is estimated that more than 18,000 ties in the Federal law that currently cartels control the border. We don’t
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
Puerto Ricans served our Nation dur- hinder economic growth and progress control the border.
ing World War I; 65,000 Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico. I said: Why don’t you control the bor-
during World War II; 61,000 during the Madam Speaker, we celebrate the der?
Korean war; 48,000 during the Vietnam U.S. citizenship for Puerto Rico, but He said: Because of policies.
war; 10,000 during the Gulf war, and we want statehood now. Do you need more resources?
25,000 during Operation Enduring Free- Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- That is a different topic. What we
dom and Iraqi Freedom. Yet, just last ance of my time. need is good policy. We had policies
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