Jenniffer González-Colón

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga).

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Joyce).

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, the Senate passed this bill twice, without even holding a hearing. The House has not taken any action on its version of the bill, H.R. 2551, even though it has been referred to the Natural Resources Committee since last May. The Senate Committee report on S. 1342 justified its need by stating that the environmental sensitivity index maps for the Great Lakes haven't been updated since the 1980s. It also states the maps haven't been updated since between 1985 and 2004. It just depends on which paragraph of the report you read. Clearly, no one knows or could be bothered to find out when these maps were updated. Apparently, it doesn't matter for some people. CBO scores this bill as costing taxpayers $2 million, but we have no idea where the administration is on this issue. No money was appropriated for these indexes in 2019, and, clearly, we don't have an answer to those questions still in this report. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, on November 3, Puerto Rican voters made a clear choice to become a permanent part of this Union, to become a State in equal footing and equal responsibility to the 50 States. As it was done in Alaska and Hawaii, voters were asked a straightforward question: ``Should Puerto Rico be admitted as a State of the Union?'' And, yes, an absolute majority voted ``yes.'' Statehood gained more votes than any candidate or party ticket on the island. I was the most voted candidate islandwide, and statehood still received well over 100,000 more votes. The people of Puerto Rico have repeatedly voted to end territorial status. In 2012, voters answered ``no'' to the question on continuing the territorial status on the island, and in all votes since then, the majority of ballots for change has favored statehood. Mr. Speaker, the people of Puerto Rico have democratically chosen what their future should be. What is Congress waiting for? It is our duty to respect the will of the people of Puerto Rico. This is a direct mandate to move to statehood, and it is Congress' responsibility to act and do it. Keeping the current condition cannot be justified by any means. There are a lot of assumptions and false claims being made by both sides of the aisle on the issue of Puerto Rico's statehood--claims that are mistaken and only try to invalidate the will of the people. The American citizens in Alaska and Hawaii were not met with proposals to try some other different solution or meet some special precondition, so why should we? Congress needs to respond to this vote to achieve the goal of getting Puerto Rico a legal status where our American citizens stand on the same footing as those in the rest of the Nation. This is the right thing to do. Inequality is not sustainable. For over 100 years our young men and women have fought in America's wars side by side with their fellow citizens from all States, under the orders of a Commander in Chief we cannot vote for. For decades, my predecessors and I, lacking a vote on this House floor, have had to plead, with no proportional delegation, against bureaucracy and against both open and tacit discrimination in Federal programs and funding. Puerto Ricans have been a part of the great American family for over 120 years. Puerto Ricans are part of what makes the United States what it is today. At work, schools, law, business, sports, government, and in communities in every State we contribute to the greatness of this Nation, and we are proud of that, Mr. Speaker. We embrace being Americans, and we want to be looked at and treated as such by our own government system. It is time to get to work to give the people of Puerto Rico the equality that has been long promised but denied. After the discovery of the island, there were more than 100 years as a colony of Spain and now as a colony of the United States. This is the time. Let's do it. Respect the will of the people of Puerto Rico to become a State, and let's do it now.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, as we celebrate Puerto Rico Chemist's Day, I would like to thank these professionals for their extraordinary and invaluable contributions to the advancement of science, public health and safety and both basic and applied research and development. Their core scientific disciplines are essential for every technology we enjoy today, and their work helps create, deliver and ensure the safety of foods, fuels, drinking water, clean air, drugs and medical supplies, industrial processes, raw and processed materials and finished products that are indispensable to our society. In particular, chemical scientists play a key role in many of Puerto Rico's prime industries, including most notably the biopharmaceutical and medical devices industry, as well as the aerospace and agriculture sectors, which are central to the economic development of the Island. I especially want to recognize today the Puerto Rico Chemists' Association, which is celebrating its 79th annual conference with this year's theme: The Chemist, Always Creating Solutions for our Society. Since 1941, this organization has acquired significant scientific and technical expertise to move Puerto Rico forward, while also maintaining standards of excellence in such a distinguished profession, promoting unity among its members, and increasing understanding and education of the chemical sciences. With the great need for the expansion of scientific knowledge and its application to address the needs of a changing world, it is just that we recognize the work of this branch of the sciences, encourage new generations of students to pursue this discipline, and support them in their continued tasks.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves for leading this bill to prevent the Federal Emergency Management Agency from being able to collect disaster assistance funds that it has previously awarded to individuals and families who applied for Federal funding after they were affected by natural disasters. I think this bill, H.R. 5953, the Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act, is more important than ever with the history we have in the past, with hurricanes and earthquakes here in the Nation as well. And we are experiencing all of those examples that he just mentioned. This legislation is the result of the management of funding and poor recordkeeping practices, which are not the fault of those affected by natural disasters. I truly believe that FEMA should be there to support individuals and families when they need it most, not revictimize them when they are starting over. As an example, in Puerto Rico, the island was devastated by hurricanes in 2017, then again by earthquakes earlier this year. We received more than $60 billion in disaster recovery funding that has been awarded to Puerto Rico and my constituents. How, now, can we tell those rebuilding that some of the funding that was given to them was by mistake? How does the Federal Government re-collect funding that was already used to buy materials to rebuild a home? It can't. I think this legislation makes sure our constituents and our people are not on the hook for FEMA's mistakes. I think this is a great opportunity to use those funds wisely. That is the reason I want to say thank you, again, to Representative Sam Graves for leading this issue, protecting those who have already become victims, and I urge its passage.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I thank again my ranking member and his staff for all the help to make this bill able to come to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2914, the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act. I thank Representative Espaillat for leading this bill with me, to ensure not just people in the Nation, but actually on the island of Puerto Rico, constituents that I do represent here in Congress and those affected by Hurricane Maria have increased flexibility in providing ownership of property when applying for Federal disaster funding. This was a major issue, and actually still is, many times. FEMA changed the way the documents were going to be accepted. Then they changed it again. And they did that more than five times during the course of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. So at the beginning, no papers were accepted, and then they changed it. So there was a difficult situation for people, even in the center of the island. The documents that were requested in the north part of the island were different from those in the south, from those in the west, or in the countryside. And that is the reason this bill is so important. This bill will provide necessary flexibilities in the form of documents that individuals that were residing in the area during the natural disaster got to apply for disaster assistance. Individuals may now use their driver's license, deeds, or title to properties, utilities bills, or any of the 13 forms included in this bill as evidence of occupancy. In our case, you got many people that were affected. There was no doubt in terms of FEMA or the government that they were affected by the hurricanes, yet they did not have the papers at the time because they lose them because of disaster, and it was so difficult to get the government actually to use or redo those papers in time. So that took almost a year for many of the individuals affected by hurricanes in Puerto Rico just to provide the documents. As you may know, many of the dates expired. Most of the people didn't qualify then to receive the Federal funds that were available for disaster survivors. That is the reason H.R. 2914 also includes language for a report on the Disaster Housing Assistance Program, and how effective this program is. The Federal Emergency Management Agency decided against using this disaster housing program in Puerto Rico following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, as the agency looks to other efficient programs to more effectively meet the immediate needs of those affected by the two hurricanes. After those crazy 1 and 2 years, I may say that FEMA is helping and providing and using many of the forms that are now included in this bill to get those funds available. But, again, that can change if we don't have it in law, and that is the reason this bill is so important. Mr. Speaker, I thank, again, Representatives Espaillat, and leadership on the Committee, as well as my ranking member for supporting this legislation and working with me and my staff to improve this bill for the past year. I urge its passage.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Bishop. Mr. Speaker, I express my support for S. 910 to reauthorize the National Sea Grant College Program, which is a network of 34 university-based programs that support coastal States and territories, as well. In 2019, the Sea Grant program generated over $400 million in economic benefits and supported more than 10,000 jobs. In my district, the program, based at the University of Puerto Rico, has produced vital research to address erosion, has developed strategies for the sustainable use of fisheries, and has contributed to the island's tourism-based economy through its coral reef restoration efforts. Puerto Rico's Sea Grant is also a critical source of funding for research projects that provide data for the development of sound management plans for our marine resources. Mr. Speaker, I believe it is crucial that we reauthorize and support the Sea Grant program, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Bishop for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 1069. This legislation authorizes NOAA's Digital Coast Program and ensures coastal communities have up-to-date data and tools to prepare for storms, manage floods, restore shorelines, and plan for long-term coastal resilience. NOAA's Digital Coast Program has been extremely valuable for jurisdictions like Puerto Rico, where we have 799 miles of coastline and 62 percent of our population lives in coastal municipalities. For instance, after Hurricane Maria devastated the island with powerful storm surge and flash floods, Digital Coast staffers updated their Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper to incorporate high-resolution flood maps for the territory. They also held training sessions on flood mapping and resilient infrastructure, allowing officials to visualize storm surge, high tide flooding, sea level rise, and tsunami scenarios in order to increase our preparedness for such events. This bill would build upon this work, authorizing NOAA to continue providing comprehensive mapping information that allows planners and coastal managers across the Nation to make accurate decisions and smart investments. This bill will also require NOAA to focus additional data collection efforts on underserved coastal areas. As Puerto Rico's sole representative in Congress, I know firsthand the importance of having reliable coastal data to help respond to emergencies, to build resilience, and manage water resources. Therefore, I strongly urge my colleagues to support S. 1069.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, it is with great respect that I pay special tribute to the organization of Disabled American Veterans (DAV). This year marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of this organization created by and for disabled American veterans on September 25, 1920. The DAV provides assistance to more than 1 million veterans every year to connect them with healthcare, disability, employment, education, and financial benefits they have earned through their military service. Puerto Rico joined the DAV in 1973 and has since faithfully endeavored to fulfill its mission of empowering veterans to lead high- quality lives with respect and dignity. This commendable organization has submitted more than 11.7 million claims nationwide for the past century on behalf of service members as they make critical transitions into civilian life. A transition that is particularly difficult to those returning home after enduring wars and are in special need of attention and care from our grateful nation. Sadly, this year alone, military suicides have increased by as much as 20 percent compared to the same period in 2019 as members struggle under COVID-19, war zone deployments, national disasters, and civil unrest. The DAV not only provides a place of trust and compassion to our wounded veterans but most importantly a place to outreach veteran concerns before Congress and federal agencies like the Department of Veterans to bring representation to these service members. On this day we pause to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the DAV, worthy of our gratitude to the sacrifice of countless men and women from all corners of our great nation who together with their brothers and sisters in arms from Puerto Rico, answered the call of freedom and the defense of Democracy around the World. Veterans need our help today as much as they did 100 years ago. For this reason, I'm proud to recognize the Disable American Veteran on their 100th Anniversary and commend their outstanding support to America's injured and ill veterans and their families.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill that includes language for flood control in Puerto Rico. We are now in the hurricane season, and today, it is announced a tropical storm between today and tomorrow. The flood control projects included in the bill are Rio Guayanilla, Rio Manati in Ciales, and Rio Culebrinas on the northwestern part of the island, as well as important provisions to study flood damage, provide resiliency planning assistance, and evaluate seismic risks. I am also most proud to have secured in this bill an increase to the authorization cost for the Cano Martin Pena project, $232.4 million, as established during the feasibility phase in 2016, fixing a discrepancy in WRDA 2007. This increase ensures updated costs are considered as the project moves forward, which is especially critical for the development of eight communities in the San Juan area.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, for so many of us, serving in the U.S. Congress is the achievement of a lifetime. But by the time John Lewis arrived to this chamber, he had already built a historic legacy, as one of the Greats of the Civil Rights Movement. A man of inspiration and hope, committed to the struggles of freedom and justice, John had to put himself on the line and defend social justice throughout his whole lifetime. America has lost one of its great leaders. John never relented in fighting for what he felt was right, yet he always sought the good in others. Having suffered bigotry and violence, he would not let himself be dragged down by hate. It is a privilege to me, to have been able to know and serve in Congress with such a champion of equality and civil rights. Humble as the truly great are humble, serene and kind, but John was strong in his convictions. In his office he displayed mementos of our nation's crude history of segregation and the events of the struggle that he still remembered as if it were yesterday. I was privileged to have conversations with him asking about his experiences, in which he gladly spent much longer time than the usual congressional meeting. In his gaze as he spoke you could see an inner peace that filled the room and seemed magical. John Lewis always supported the right of Puerto Ricans to choose their own future and achieve full equality as American citizens, and I was able to count on him as cosponsor of the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act (H.R. 4901). He also joined in our effort to recognize the valor and sacrifice in battle of the Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment as cosponsor of the measure to establish the 13th of April as National Borinqueneers Day. In the same spirit of justice and equality, he asked me to be the Republican co-lead for the Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 3114), a piece of legislation that seeks to end discrimination in adoption and foster care agencies across the nation, forbidding discrimination against children, youths, families and individuals on the basis of religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity) and marital status in the management and delivery of child welfare services. I did not hesitate to say yes. Discrimination is discrimination whether you are talking political or social issues. Representative Lewis' gallant defense of equality and justice extended to the struggle for the rights of the LGBTQ community. I was proud to join him in the Equality Act, which would extend by law the protection against discrimination under the 1964 Civil Rights Act to LGBTQ individuals. The march towards true justice on which John Lewis spent his life goes on: it is up to us to continue it. There will be other bridges to cross, and his courage should inspire us to cross them, but always with love and care for all people. May John's loved ones be comforted by the knowledge that his memory will continue to inspire many generations who are learning from his words, about inclusion and about fighting hatred with love. I Thank John (he never wanted me to call him Congressman or Mr. Lewis).

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise to speak on my amendments 12 and 13 included in the en bloc No. 4. Amendment 12 incorporates my bipartisan bill, H.R. 6050, making Puerto Rico an eligible applicant for the Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART Grants as well as its Drought Resiliency Project Grants. These programs provide Federal funding for water conservation projects, as well as projects that improve water management to increase resiliency to droughts. Currently, Puerto Rico is the only territory and noncontiguous jurisdiction in the U.S. where these grants are not available. Reliable water service is essential, particularly as we confront COVID-19 and we are asking people to wash their hands, and yet, in Puerto Rico we are announcing rationing measures impacting over 140,000 customers. Unfortunately, as much as 59 percent of the water produced by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority is lost through a deficient distribution system. This situation is further complicated by our vulnerability to droughts. In fact, per the U.S. Drought Monitor, 77.48 percent of Puerto Rico is currently under abnormally dry conditions. Approximately 59.84 percent of the island is experiencing drought, while 26.11 percent is facing a severe drought. The Governor of Puerto Rico, as I just told everybody here, has already announced water rationing measures impacting more than 140,000 customers. Given this reality, Congress should ensure Puerto Rico, just as Alaska and Hawaii and the rest of the U.S. territories, is eligible for WaterSMART and Drought Resiliency Project Grants. My second amendment, amendment 13, allows Puerto Rico to issue commercial driver's licenses, or CDLs, and makes the island eligible to receive Commercial Driver's License Improvement Grants. Requirements of CDL licensure promote increased skills, knowledge, and safety of those operating a commercial motor vehicle to a well- established standard. This amendment provides Puerto Rico a 5-year grace period to come into CDL compliance and provides immediate eligibility for grants to expedite this process. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment in the en bloc package.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, I would like to honor the life and service of my friend, Michael Morales LTC from Naranjito, Puerto Rico who passed away on May 8, 2020 at the young age of forty-two. Michael was proud to serve his country. He joined the United States Air Force, serving in distinguished roles such as the principal manager for multinational military exercises covering 32 nations across Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, also as instructor and evaluator pilot for the C-7 and C-130, as Commander of the 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, and as a Legislative Liaison for the Secretary of Defense on acquisitions and sustainment on programs for the new Air Force One and KC-46 air tanker programs. He also served as a Senior Advisor to former Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon and was responsible for bringing the Secretary to the Island for HUBZone events geared towards fueling small business growth in historically underutilized business zones. As a Senior Advisor to the Administrator, he also led the agency's policy efforts in Puerto Rico; working closely with federal and local government, banking sector, and entrepreneurs to develop policy aimed at fostering entrepreneurial repatriation, economic growth, and assist with the Island's economic status. Michael lived a life of public service. President Woodrow Wilson once said that ``You are not here merely to make a living. You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world. . .'' Michael was the best of us, an example to us all. Thank you, Michael. Rest in Peace. Descansa en Paz.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize an important anniversary in Puerto Rican journalism. Fifty years ago, what is today the leading newspaper in Puerto Rico, El Nuevo Dia, was launched under the direction of the late editor Carlos Castaneda. It was his vision and leadership that transformed one of our older regionally-oriented papers into a major islandwide publication, marking a new era in the Puerto Rico press. During its half century of existence El Nuevo Dia newspaper has been home to valued and respected reporters, commenters, photojournalists, analysts and writers. I congratulate each one of these distinguished individuals who have helped make El Nuevo Dia newspaper what it is today--from the many figures long established when the paper came into existence, to those who made their careers reporting for El Nuevo Dia newspaper, to those who have moved on to other outlets, to those who are just getting started. It is their collective efforts that have kept the record of moments of joy and of pain, of achievements and challenges, of history in the making, often pioneering new ways to cover daily news, politics, economics and business, sport and cultural events. Even today, as we face this ongoing pandemic, El Nuevo Dia newspaper continues to find innovative ways to bring timely news to the people of Puerto Rico and beyond. A dynamic free press is essential to a dynamic free society and its role is vital in the process of informing the people and of maintaining accountability, especially in times of uncertainty. I wish to congratulate the Ferre Rangel family and the whole family of El Nuevo Dia newspaper, past and present, on this anniversary, and extend my best wishes to continue a path of success.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this emergency legislation that prioritizes to replenish emergency relief for all small businesses and hospitals across the Nation. The Paycheck Protection Program has, without doubt, been instrumental in helping small businesses in Puerto Rico and America keep their employees paid through this unprecedented crisis. Lenders in Puerto Rico approved more than 2,800 of these loans, disbursing a total of $658 million before the funds ran out. We have got less than .17 percent of all the Nation's PPP loans, making us jurisdiction number 52. I expect this bill now would allow the rest of those small businesses to get it and to get it now. The island's economy has been greatly impacted, just like the people here on the mainland. And now with more than 150,000 employees that are out of work and the small businesses that are out of business, it is imperative that we support this bill and immediately provide vital aid to American businesses across the Nation, which are the lifeblood of our economy.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, on this date in 1917, Puerto Ricans became American citizens. Nineteen years after coming under the American flag, the Jones-Shafroth Act established that residents of Puerto Rico at the time, and their descendants, would be citizens of the United States. This citizenship has provided us great opportunities for security and progress. As such, we have become an integral part of the national experience, contributing in numerous fields of education, politics, law, science, art, and business; and we have defended this Nation side- by-side with our fellow citizens from other States. We value our American citizenship so much that we included in our local constitution that one of our defining values is: Our Citizenship of the United States and the aspiration to continue enriching our democratic heritage individually and collectively in the enjoyment of its rights and prerogatives. In votes throughout the years, overwhelming majorities of Puerto Ricans have affirmed the intention to continue being U.S. citizens. Yet, we have been denied that aspiration, denied that enrichment of values of American citizenship. In 1898, when the U.S. Forces first landed in Puerto Rico, General Miles issued a proclamation promising: ``We have come to . . . bring you protection . . . to promote your prosperity and bestow upon you the immunities and blessings of the . . . institutions of our government.'' But instead, what happened was that almost right after achieving citizenship, a Supreme Court decision, Balzac v. Porto Rico, ruled that as residents in an unincorporated territory, we will only have partially those rights. That, contrary to what had been the case of every other territory before, achieving American citizenship did not mean necessarily a road to full equality as a State. Since then, our enjoyment of rights shared by our fellow Americans in the States has been only in a limited manner, as the Congress and the courts see fit to grant them. The promise remains unfulfilled. Unfulfilled, in spite of how 220,000 Puerto Ricans have worn this country's uniform and fought and bled for our Nation under the orders of a Commander in Chief for whom they cannot vote. Unfulfilled, when those living in Puerto Rico do not have full and equal representation in this Congress that decides how they will be ruled, what policies will be applied. As a Representative of almost 3.2 million American citizens, I am not allowed to vote on the passage of legislation that governs their daily lives. This allows Puerto Rico to be treated unequally under Federal laws, regulations, and programs involving funding, levels of service, statistics, even being treated as if we were foreign for some purposes. But we are Americans. We are born as U.S. citizens, in soil under the American flag, and the largest number of citizens who are disenfranchised. That is why I continue to promote Puerto Rico's statehood. Our people have already decisively voted that the status quo is not acceptable and chosen their change. We deserve, we have earned full exercise of the dignity, rights, and privileges of our American citizenship, including full representation and participation in the political process which governs our lives, which is only possible with statehood. Our American citizenship has represented 103 years of opportunities, but making the most of those opportunities can only happen in full equality. It is our right as citizens, and we have waited long enough.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I am here today standing in support of H.R. 1980, because I firmly believe in honoring women trailblazers who have shaped history and the story of our country, women who demonstrate leading by example. It is just what Brenda Lawrence was saying: we need to demonstrate how we can achieve that empowerment tool, and I think this museum is going to be just that. Women like our first female Supreme Court Justice from Puerto Rico, Sonia Sotomayor; our first Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor; civil rights activist Rosa Parks; astronaut and astrophysicist, Sally Ride; the first Latina to be elected to Congress, former Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen; and Representative Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress; are the better examples. Each of them in her respective field illustrated the strength and the commitment of women when they set themselves a goal. They are just a few of the women who transformed the American landscape, making it possible for me to be here today as the first female representative of Puerto Rico and now the vice-chair of the Congressional Women's Caucus. According to the Census, women are 50 percent of the total population of the country--165 million women in America--yet there is not one comprehensive museum dedicated to the history of women in the United States; and of the 2,400 national monuments, only 120--just 5 percent-- honor women. The role of women in the building of this Nation was not properly recognized while it was happening. We must create a space where that history that was not told in their own time can be studied, propagated, and given the high relief it deserves. Madam Speaker, I support this bill because I think it is time to honor how women shaped what is America today.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Chair, I thank Ranking Member Granger for yielding. Since December 28, Puerto Rico has experienced more than 2,100 earthquakes that have significantly impacted our southwestern region. Actually, I was on the island on January 6 when a 5.8 earthquake struck us, and then the next day, a 6.4, and then half an hour later another 6.2. I thank the President for immediately issuing an emergency declaration and, days later, a major disaster declaration, which prompted immediate Federal assistance to the now 29 municipalities that have been hit the most. However, the seismic activity has not stopped. Every day the infrastructure weakens. More roads and houses are damaged. The anxiety of the people on the island grows; and that is why I stand here today in support of this disaster supplemental package. I am thankful to Chairwoman Lowey for introducing this bill. And yet, in order to get this legislation enacted into law, in order to truly get the aid to Puerto Rico and other States and jurisdictions affected by natural disasters, it is imperative to have the input of both sides of the aisles, Senate and House administration, and get this ready to go. So it is my sincere hope that, as we move forward with this bill, and the negotiations that may begin as a result of it, that we keep in mind that we are dealing with real people's lives and their suffering here. Every week, every single week, when I go back home, I meet with people who have lost everything due to the earthquakes. And again, we are used to hurricanes, but we are not used to earthquakes, so this is a completely new game in Puerto Rico. I meet parents who are too frightened to send their kids to schools, and families refusing to return home out of the fear that their houses will collapse. At one point, over 7,000 people were living in shelters, many establishing campsites on the side of the road, in parks, and in open areas. The devastation, my friends, is real. It is true that the island has already allocated over $40 billion, not $90 billion, in funding to respond to the unprecedented Hurricane Maria. However, we are dealing here with an entirely different disaster. And let me say, of all that money that has been allocated, just $1.5 billion has been disbursed, so we don't have the cash, and we don't have the funds that Congress already allocated 2 years ago. The earthquakes are ongoing. The ground has not stopped shaking. While FEMA and the administration officials are onsite, Congress cannot wait until funds are depleted to act. Madam Chair, I want to highlight also the tax provisions included in this bill for Puerto Rico. Although some may argue that they have no place in a supplemental, these provisions are vital for the long-term recovery of the island and all those efforts. I thank Chairman Neal for crafting this package, including legislation that I have previously introduced, such as H.R. 302, to provide families in Puerto Rico with one or more children the same treatment currently given to island families with three or more kids under the child tax credit; H.R. 1786, to make the rum cover-over tax permanent on the island--we managed to include a 5-year extension, but now this will make it permanent; and a provision extended to the earned income tax credit for the island, which is similar to legislation I introduced in H.R. 754. I will always stand with the people I represent. I am the sole representative of the people of the island, 3.2 million Americans. Yet, we don't have a delegation in the House and in the Senate to support and push for these kinds of bills. That is why I am supporting this bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same. What has happened in Puerto Rico, we don't know yet how much longer these earthquakes are going to continue to happen. The U.S. Geological Survey is saying that it may be a year, or it may be months. Every time this happens, the infrastructure weakens. Again, it began with just six towns. Now, we have 29 towns in the disaster declaration. This is an ongoing emergency. I wish nobody would suffer what we are suffering today without having a complete recovery from the hurricanes.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Chairwoman, I thank the ranking member for yielding again. I think we have not understood the magnitude of this event. Yes, we do have $40 billion in approved funds for Puerto Rico, but of that, just $1.5 billion has been disbursed to the island. The rest of the funds go through a different process. Actually, in February of last year, there was the publication of the guidelines to access $8.7 billion. Of that, just 1.7 got a grant agreement in January of this year. So, again, in order to get the funds, it will be several months before we have it. That is the reason one of the concerns is that FEMA is getting the emergency disaster individual assistance as we speak, the same thing as the other Federal agencies that are doing the job on the ground. But at the same time, we did have a power plant on the island that is completely shut down, so we lost the power for a few days. Right now, we don't have 500 megawatts reserved. Actually, if we do have another earthquake or any other replicas, we may run out, again, of power because our power plants were affected as well. I do believe that roads and pipelines were affected. Government buildings were affected as well. We haven't seen yet the amount of destruction. Again, you will see a lot of Puerto Ricans leaving the island. It is happening already. It happened with Hurricane Maria. They flew to Florida. We are depleting, basically, our island because of these kinds of things. Yes, we do need the money. We do need to help our people in this stress. The tax provisions are good in this bill. Let me say, they are not an invention from me. This House and Senate did a report in 2016 recommending the child tax credit, the earned income tax credit, and many other amendments that treat Puerto Rico and the territories differently. That is the reason we don't have enough resources to face a lot of these challenges.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I am going to be in favor of the amendment.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Chair, first, I want to thank Congresswoman Shalala. I thank the gentlewoman for visiting the island several weeks ago with Congressman Posey and Congresswoman Murphy. Madam Chair, let me tell you what this amendment is about. This will provide $1 million to conduct a study on the impacts of educational attainment, long-term economic opportunities, as well as the well-being of students from Puerto Rico who have had to disrupt or change their educational path due to a natural disaster. Although the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, it is evident that the ongoing earthquakes impacting Puerto Rico have been particularly harmful for our students and educational system. Following the collapse of this public school in Guanica--thank God it was 4:24 in the morning, and there were no students and teachers in that school. It completely collapsed. The Department of Education delayed the start of the semester across the island in order to conduct structural inspections of all public schools. To this day, 69 schools have already been deemed unsafe and thus unable to reopen. Another 234 have been classified as partially adequate, which means that only some parts of the school's buildings are safe. In fact, although inspections are ongoing, the Puerto Rico Department of Education is projecting that 25 percent of the island's public schools will be unable to be reopen during this semester. In Guanica, this town, there are six schools. All of them are closed. As we speak, tents are being installed as outdoor classrooms to ensure students don't lose their semester, specifically seniors going off to college. The disruptive nature of the event cannot be overstated. Puerto Rico will need to identify alternative and/or temporary sites to open schools and relocate misplaced students. Many will probably leave the island altogether, the way it happened with Maria. The provision of counseling and mental health services will be crucial to address the fear and similar challenges among the impacted student population and their families. Therefore, I support the $100 million included in the supplemental to help us meet the educational needs of those affected by disasters. The study funded by this amendment will provide us with vital information to help address challenges faced by students impacted by earthquakes, mitigate additional impacts on their educational attainment, and better prepare them for future disasters. I want to conclude by thanking Ranking Member Granger for allowing me the time and Congresswoman Shalala for her hard work in working together on behalf of the people of Puerto Rico. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Chair, may I inquire how much time is remaining.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Chair, the school that I am showing you here is one from Guanica. Maybe many people here will not know that the schools in Puerto Rico are used for shelters during hurricanes, so this is having the place for shelters being destroyed and many of them not compliant right now and during the assessment. Let me give you an example. When we had the first earthquake, 6.4, and then the replica, the government of Puerto Rico has to do an assessment of the infrastructure in all schools. But weeks later, we got more aftershocks of 5, 5.4, 4.9. So that assessment continued to happen, and it is an ongoing situation every week in order to have our kids and teachers safe. So right now, I told you already the number of schools that are deemed unsafe to return to classes. But if we do have another replica of 5 or 4.9 during these next days, and we are having between 8 and 12 tremors a day, that may be that many more schools can be included. Actually, originally, there were just six towns included in the mayor's declaration of disaster. Right now, it is 29, because the infrastructure gets weakened with all the tremors, and that is the reason I do support this amendment. The mental health issue for students, for parents, for kids is a real situation on the island. We don't want to lose more kids. We don't want kids to lose their semester. So I think this amendment would provide that much-needed help. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.