Jenniffer González-Colón

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, today, I rise in support of this amendment. It is a bipartisan amendment to increase the amount of disaster nutrition assistance for Puerto Rico to $210 million. The island has been experiencing constant seismic activity since December 28 of last year, and thousands of Puerto Ricans have lost their homes and all their belongings. This challenges their safety and job security, as well as their ability to provide food for themselves and their family members. Puerto Rico does not participate in the national Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, as do our counterparts in the mainland; Washington, D.C.; Guam; and the Virgin Islands. Instead, Puerto Rico has the Nutrition Assistance Program, or NAP, which receives significantly less funding. Excluding us from SNAP--and that is another issue that this House addressed and we are making a study in that sense. Excluding us from SNAP also excludes us from the disaster portion of this program, known as D-SNAP. This means that every time there is a natural disaster like the one we are experiencing now, Congress needs to step up and appropriate Federal funding for disaster nutrition. We saw that after Hurricane Irma and Maria. And now, we are facing another emergency, and that is the reason Congress needs to approve funds for this food nutrition assistance. This amendment will help support beneficiaries of the program and allow an increase in enrollment, ensuring that those impacted by disasters were supported in their effort to maintain food security. The earthquakes have caused widespread infrastructure damage. Over 15,000 residents have reported damage in their homes. Of those, more than 1,000 are damaged to a point of being unlivable or destroyed. This is a wide infrastructure issue that has impacted private homes, public buildings, and private businesses, including supermarkets, pharmacies, and stores in that region. Since the seismic activity is ongoing, we expect the infrastructure problems to worsen. Some structures have survived seismic movements thus far, but there is no telling us when or if they will be destroyed or affected by future aftershocks. People are living in fear; people are living in desperation-- especially in the southwestern region of the island. At one point, over 7,000 people were living in shelters without a clear idea of when they will be able to return to their homes. I have experienced these tremors myself, and I can firmly state that fear during these times is more than justified. The unpredictability of earthquakes challenges any forecast capabilities. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there is no telling when the earthquakes will stop. However, one thing we do know is that the island needs help, and we need it now. Madam Chair, this is why I am supporting the underlying bill and why I am offering this amendment. There are close to 397,000 NAP beneficiaries in the affected municipalities, of which over 92,000 are children. These numbers may grow, contingent on more municipalities being affected and more residents joining the program. Madam Chair, food security is a critical part of any recovery effort. My amendment will ensure earthquake victims can count on disaster nutritional funds to get them through this difficult time. I thank Congresswoman DeLauro, Congresswoman Velazquez, Congressmen Soto and Jose Serrano for sponsoring this important amendment for the people of Puerto Rico. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor. And, again, I cannot vote for the bill. I cannot have Members in the House and in the Senate representing Puerto Rico, but I can, with all of you, vote for Puerto Rico in this amendment. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. I would like to claim the time in opposition, and although I am claiming the time in opposition, I am in favor of the amendment presented by Ms. Plaskett.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Chair, I think it is important to understand that living on an island puts us in a different mode than the rest of the States where you can receive and manage electricity at the power plants differently. Our infrastructure is weakened by hurricanes, and by many years of hurricanes in our case. So I do believe that this allocation of funds for technical assistance from the Department of Energy will help us to get through this situation and allow the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico as well, to figure out what is going to be the kind of energy we are going to be using. We approved $1.9 billion for technical assistance in CDBG funds for the electrical grid on the island of Puerto Rico, but the guidelines have not been published yet. So that means we don't have access to those funds, even though the Department of Energy has been doing the assessments on the islands of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. Because of that, I do support the amendment. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Mast for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4044, the Protect and Restore America's Estuaries Act, of which I am a proud cosponsor. The National Estuary Program is an initiative committed to protecting and restoring the water quality and ecological integrity of 28 estuaries across the country, including the San Juan Bay Estuary Program in my congressional district. This estuary is the only tropical estuary in the program and the only one outside the continental U.S. It also provides habitat to 160 species of birds, 200 species of wetland plants, 124 species of fish, and 20 species of amphibians and reptiles, including endangered animals such as the Antillean manatee and the hawksbill and leatherback turtles. The San Juan Bay annually receives 80 percent of imports for Puerto Rico through docks and ports throughout the system, playing a crucial role for the island's economy. Last year alone, the estuary received 9.5 million visitors, numbers only expected to increase as the island recovers from past hurricanes. The estuary aids in flood prevention for the island's metropolitan area, which is located within the boundaries of the estuary. I thank the chairman and the ranking member for bringing this bill forward. Of course, I am going to be for it, and I think it is a great initiative not just to protect but also care for all our wetlands in the Nation.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, due to a visit with Senator Rick Scott after the earthquakes in Puerto Rico, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 09; YEA on Roll Call No. 10; and NAY on Roll Call No. 11.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON. Mr. Chairman, I thank Congressman Davis for yielding to allow me to speak on this bipartisan amendment. And thank you for allowing me to be a cosponsor of this amendment. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 was signed into law more than 52 years ago. Yet, according to the American Association of Retired Persons, AARP, three in five older workers have seen or experienced age discrimination. Between 1997 and 2018, 423,000 workers filed an age discrimination complaint averaging 20,142 claims per year. This figure is 22 percent of all workplace discrimination claims Furthermore, AARP reports that 76 percent see age discrimination as a barrier to finding a new job. The Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources states that there are more than 300,000 women age 35 or older in the labor force on the island. This population represents 28.8 percent of all workers in an economy that has experienced a structured downturn for more than a decade. This amendment simply requires the labor secretary and the chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to submit a report determining the number of women who may have been discriminated against because of their age. As vice chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, I am proud to support this measure to assist aging women in the workforce.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, today I rise on behalf of every single one of my constituents impacted by the ongoing seismic activity in Puerto Rico. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the southwestern coast of the island has been the epicenter of over 1,000 earthquakes since December 28 of last year. On January 7 the island experienced a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that has triggered consequent aftershock tremors that are felt in the entire island, mainly in the municipalities of Guanica, Guayanilla, Yauco, Penuelas, and Ponce. Mr. Speaker, I urge President Trump to approve the major disaster declaration requested by the Governor of Puerto Rico. This should be the next step to ensure proper and timely recovery efforts on the island as we push through yet another natural disaster.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the people of Puerto Rico. They are still struggling from the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017 and now are dealing with incessant seismic activity on the island since December 28 of last year. Puerto Ricans still need ongoing assistance from Federal disaster programs, like those offered by FEMA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Today, I would like to emphasize HUD's work, particularly through its Community Development Block Grant program and the disaster relief program for Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has an allotment of over $20 billion under CDBG-DR programs that will be spent on unmet needs and mitigation expenses to ensure local infrastructure is restored and in a better position to withstand future disasters. This clearly puts us in a positive position to restore our housing stock, economic activity, and damaged infrastructure. However, of the $20 billion, only $1.5 billion is currently available to be drawn down by the grantee, the Puerto Rico Department of Housing. Although this is a large amount, delays and other challenges have impeded the availability of these additional funds. To make matters worse, Puerto Rico has been experiencing a sequence of tremors since December 28, including a 6.4 magnitude earthquake yesterday during the early morning and a replica of 6.0 in the morning as well. The earthquake and subsequent aftershocks have caused significant housing and infrastructure damages in the south part of our island, including the towns of Guanica, Guayanilla, Penuelas, and Ponce, among others. My constituents are afraid and uncertain of when these occurrences will cease, and the reason for that is approximately more than 400 people are still in shelters. One death has been reported. Additionally, there was an immediate power outage that impacted the entire island. As we speak, 75 percent of the island is without power and without electricity. I commend President Trump for signing the Federal emergency declaration last night. It is clear that the people of Puerto Rico will need Federal assistance to fully assess damages, recover, and prepare for other future events. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, aftershocks and an increase in overall seismic activity are expected throughout the next week, including a chance of another large earthquake that could cause additional damage. I am confident that we will show the strength and resiliency once more in the face of another disaster, but we cannot do it alone. That is the reason, when you see schools that were impacted on the island, crushing one of the schools in Guanica--thank God there were no kids present at that time. Because the Governor resumed order, the classes were suspended, and we saved a lot of lives in that school. But we can't do it alone. That is the reason we need to secure proper disbursement of funds requiring planning and preparation, and we must ensure local agencies in Puerto Rico, like the Department of Housing, are equipped to manage and oversee the funds. Therefore, I understand bolstering capabilities, and I understand the changes and challenges. We need improvement, but I do not understand the repeated delays, the lack of information, and the violation of congressionally mandated deadlines for the CDBG-DR funds. Mr. Speaker, whatever changes or improvements need to be made must be made within the bounds, guidelines, and deadlines set forth by Congress to the Federal agencies. Puerto Rico is currently waiting for an agreement for an additional allotment of $8 billion for unmet needs, which already has an approved action plan and now needs a signed agreement for that money, including $2 billion for restoring our depleted power grid. These are urgent needs at this time.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, trade with Canada and Mexico is a crucial component of our economy. Last year, the U.S. exported just over $565 billion in goods to these two nations. It is estimated that approximately 12 million American jobs rely on North American trade. Our Nation's trade partnership with Canada and Mexico is particularly important for our state and local economies. In Puerto Rico, for example, exports to these two countries totaled $1.38 billion in 2018. This represents an increase of 161 percent from pre-NAFTA levels in 1993, when exports from the Island to Canada and Mexico totaled just $528.8 million. Our economy clearly requires that we preserve and strengthen U.S. trade ties with Canada and Mexico. To achieve this, we must pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. USMCA would not only ensure that U.S. manufacturers, farmers, and service providers can continue to access the Canadian and Mexican markets, but it would also rebalance and modernize NAFTA--our outdated trade agreement--into a 21st century, high-standard trade deal. For instance, USMCA creates a new digital trade chapter and includes provisions to strengthen intellectual property (IP) protections critical to driving innovation. This is particularly important for jurisdictions like Puerto Rico, which is the top U.S. exporter of pharmaceutical and medicine products. USMCA similarly seeks to level the playing field for workers by including enforceable labor standards. It is also the first trade agreement with a chapter focusing specifically on small and medium- sized businesses to help them grow and reach new markets. The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that USMCA would boost GDP by $68.2 billion and would add roughly 176,000 jobs. USMCA is a clear win for our Nation.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Granger for this opportunity, and I appreciate the hard work and bipartisan work that the gentlewoman, Chairwoman Lowey, and the leadership have put together to make this bill a reality. I rise in strong support of the spending package for fiscal year 2020 because it includes several provisions that directly impact 3.2 million citizens living in Puerto Rico by providing funding for the Nutritional Assistance Program, as well as the Puerto Rico Air National Guard projects, and the Army Corps of Engineers, among others. I am especially pleased that the agreement provides 2-year funding for the island's Medicaid program. The funding levels included in the bill will give certainty to the 1.1 million beneficiaries who rely on this program to meet their healthcare needs, as well as to put into effect several critical sustainability measures designed to enhance the provision of healthcare. This guarantee of funding for the next 2 years constitutes an important step towards correcting the problems arising from the chronic underfunding of the program. I look forward to continuing this conversation for a long-term solution that guarantees citizens in Puerto Rico a standard of healthcare that we can expect from a nation as great as ours.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, today I rise, and I am pleased to say that the continuing resolution to keep our government open until December 20 extends, once again, the provision of the 2018 BBA to provide Puerto Rico a 100 percent Federal Medical Assistance Percentage in the Medicaid program. However, the time available for an extension is quickly coming to an end. Unless Congress acts quickly to adequately fund this vital program, Puerto Rico will face a $1 billion shortfall as early as March of 2020, putting in grave jeopardy the 1.1 million American citizens in my district who rely on this program. This insecurity in funding also makes it impossible to negotiate long-term provider contracts, and it disrupts the ongoing implementation of important transparency and integrity measures. Without decisive and long-term funding, the progress into stabilizing Puerto Rico's Medicaid program could be reversed as payments to providers would once again fall close to 40 percent Medicare fee schedule and accelerate provider exodus. Puerto Rico will also not be able to pay for lifesaving hepatitis C medicines that positively impact the quality of life, while decreasing long-term health costs. Puerto Rico will also not be able to subsidize dual Medicare B premiums and shift those healthcare costs to Medicare, where they belong. The lack of a solution for Puerto Rico's Medicaid program, such as the one proposed by the House, could have a ripple effect on our healthcare system. I urge my colleagues to act on Medicaid provisions.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the distinguished career of the honorable Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Velez, on her retirement as U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The experience and commitment of U.S. Attorney Rodriguez-Velez has been vital in the Puerto Rico District. Her record in this office is of outstanding performance in the face of the great challenges in the fight against violent crime, drug and arms trafficking, national security threats, human trafficking, organized crime, illegal entry into the U.S., and most notably the fight against public corruption. U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Velez has served the public interest since 1977 in the Puerto Rico Department of Justice and since 1988 in the U.S. Attorney's Office. In that role she held numerous key positions in her career as First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney, Civil Division Chief, Deputy Chief for the White Collar/General Crimes unit, Administrative Officer, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Coordinator and Chairperson, Violent Crime Coordinator, Basic Criminal Advocacy Coordinator and Supervisor, Public Affairs Officer and District Office Security Manager. Ms. Rodriguez-Velez was appointed U.S. Attorney by the Attorney General in June 2006 and received a presidential nomination in January 2007. On October 13, 2007, the seven judges of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico unanimously appointed Ms. Rodriguez-Velez to serve as United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. On October 4, 2011, Ms. Rodriguez-Velez was re- appointed to a new term as United States Attorney, pursuant to the unanimous vote of the Court. U.S. Attorney Rodriguez-Velez has implemented numerous initiatives to combat drug trafficking and violent crime in Puerto Rico, including multiple drug strike forces responsible for over 2,400 arrests; an Illegal Firearms and Violence Reduction Initiative, responsible for over 500 arrests; and a RICO Unit to prosecute violent drug trafficking organizations. She has received numerous awards and commendation letters during her years of service from both the Puerto Rico and United States Departments of Justice, as well as from state and federal law enforcement agencies. Her character has been tested many times, often facing unfair political attacks and obstruction, especially when addressing the fight against the scourge of public corruption, yet she has remained a steadfast prosecutor, always serving justice and believing in her oath to the U.S. Constitution and Law. Because I can attest to her courage, her integrity, her professional excellence and her heartfelt belief in justice and American values, I congratulate her on a well and faithfully executed career--42 years working in both the Puerto Rico and U.S. Departments of Justice, 12 of them as the U.S. District Attorney for Puerto Rico. I personally admire the courage of Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez and recognize her as a role model for women. I thank her for her service and, I wish her the best in all her future endeavors.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in full support of H.R. 1615, known as the VA-SBA Act of 2019, introduced by my dear friend, General Kelly from Mississippi. Why this bill is important for me: in Puerto Rico, we do have more than 100,000 veterans registered by the VA system. Our men and women in uniform are an invaluable asset during their time of service and upon separating from the Armed Forces as well. One of the main challenges upon retiring and adjusting to life as a civilian is actually securing employment. Many decide to open and operate their own business, employing the community and generating robust gains for our economy. According to the Small Business Administration, close to 2.5 million businesses in the United States are minority-owned by veterans, with a total annual revenue of over $1 trillion--and Puerto Rico is not a part of these statistics. Yet, there are additional issues to consider, and that is the reason this bill is presented today. Both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Small Business Administration are involved in the process of certifying American service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. These businesses have the option to self-certify with the SBA for contracting purposes with the Federal Government, but, additionally, the Veterans Affairs Administration has its own process for certifying these same businesses through a more rigorous evaluation for Federal contracts within the VA. This is another hardship for many of those veterans. Having two paths for what is essentially the same outcome can be confusing for service- disabled veteran business owners and creates an opportunity for fraud, waste, and abuse. This bill will help rectify this problem by streamlining the process and making clear certification requirements for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and shifting this responsibility to the Small Business Administration, which has the technical expertise to administer small business programs and properly work with these cases. By releasing the VA from this task, we help eliminate inconsistencies in the certification process and previous loopholes that impact Federal contracting and also allow the VA to focus on their main mission. We also help focus the VA's attention to its core mission of administering the healthcare services for our veterans. Mr. Speaker, I am a proud original cosponsor of this bill, and I think we should all vote for it.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 886, the Veteran Treatment Court Coordination Act of 2019. Our men and women in uniform often struggle with physical and mental remnants of their time in service. According to the VA, over 1.7 million veterans received treatment through a VA mental health specialty program in 2018. Additionally, close to 20 percent of service members returning from Iraq or Afghanistan experience depression or have a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder diagnosis. Mr. Speaker, we want our veterans to thrive. They listened to their Nation's call and served when needed. It is now our responsibility to address every single issue that stops them from living a full life and continue to contribute to their country as a civilian. Veterans' Treatment Courts are a valuable tool that assists veterans facing non-violent criminal charges resulting from mental illness, substance abuse or other adverse behavior. They provide alternatives at the state and county level that focus on rehabilitation and reintegration in part by facilitating programs that provide support and resources to veterans. H.R. 886 directs the Department of Justice to establish a Veterans Treatment Court Program that provides grants and technical assistance for local governments to develop and maintain veteran treatment courts. State circuits that have either adopted a Veterans Treatment Court or have filed a notice of intent to establish a Veterans Treatment Court would be eligible. I am a proud cosponsor of this bill. I genuinely believe veterans are an asset to our communities and as such should be given all available help and assistance. I thank my colleague, Mr. Crist from Florida for his leadership on this issue and encourage my colleagues to vote in favor.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend for allowing me to speak and for his visit. And actually, that was the first time ever the Veterans' Affairs Committee had a hearing in Puerto Rico in more than 100 years. So we got two chairmen in Puerto Rico in the last 2 years, and I am happy to say that Mr. Roe and Mr. Takano were there this year. And actually I have got good news. Finally, we got the money assigned for the new clinic in Arecibo and the new clinic in Ponce after that visit. So that is real good news. And we just received a VA deputy last week, and they are talking about expanding the services of the hospital, which is good. Today I rise in full support of H.R. 95, the Homeless Veteran Families Act introduced by my colleague Julia Brownley of California. Homelessness is, unfortunately, one of the challenges many of our veterans face upon separating from the Armed Forces. Consequently, the Department of Veterans Affairs has made ending homelessness part of their core mission. Initiatives like the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, which funds community agencies that provide services to homeless veterans, facilitates tackling these problems head-on. H.R. 95 builds upon this program by authorizing the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay partial per diem for children who are under the care of a homeless veteran. We need to keep in mind that homelessness can affect our veterans at any point, impacting not only their lives, but the lives of their children. Recent estimates indicate that there are close to 82 homeless veterans in Puerto Rico, and we need to take this personally because they just can't move to another state. With us living on an island, we have got to have our community being served, and a program like Homeless Providers Grant and the Per Diem Program will help us lower this number to zero and will counter the inability of providers of these services to turn down helping a veteran because he or she has children under their care. And I think that is the most important thing about this bill. It is not only the veteran themselves that suffers, it is the family that suffers with him or with her, and that is the reason I am a proud cosponsor of this bill. I commend Congresswoman Brownley for her leadership on this issue, and, of course, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill. I think it is important to recognize that we all need to take care of these kinds of issues. I thank Congressman Roe and Chairman Takano for visiting the island this year. I think this is the first time ever that Puerto Rico has received visits from two chairmen, and that means something for the more than 105,000 veterans registered on the island.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas), the ranking member, and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Johnson), the chairwoman, for introducing this great bill. Today, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2528, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Opportunities Act, introduced by those two great colleagues. STEM fields provide a great opportunity for academic and professional advancement. According to the Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are projected to grow by close to 9 percent, compared to approximately 6 percent for non-STEM occupations. On average, students with a STEM degree are expected to have greater job prospects and to earn close to 12 percent more in wages than their non-STEM counterparts. We should expect this growing trend to continue, and, therefore, we need to ensure we bolster STEM capabilities in education and in the workforce to meet the demand for STEM professionals and remain at the forefront of scientific endeavors. H.R. 2528 helps guarantee that the STEM community is diverse and representative of women, minorities, rural students, students with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. Specifically, this bill directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop best practices on how to support STEM researchers who are also caregivers, how to best reduce the impact of bias in the review of grant proposals, and how to better identify cultural and institutional barriers at science agencies and Federal labs. It also requires Federal science agencies to collect demographic information on grant proposals, awards, and faculty, and it directs the National Science Foundation to support the research and dissemination of best practices to increase recruitment, retention, and advancement of underrepresented groups in STEM degree programs and research careers. Puerto Rico has a strong STEM academic and professional sector as well. We even created a caucus with universities--the Arecibo Observatory, among others--to help bolster this area. I, myself, graduated from a STEM school. We have remarkable STEM students and researchers who are engaged with their communities and are ready to contribute to their fields by producing innovative work for the benefit of the island and for the Nation. The objectives of this bill are key to increasing the scope of the scientific population and meeting the current demands and challenges in STEM. I am a proud cosponsor of this bill, and I would like to thank Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas for their leadership, not just in this area, but on many other important issues, and I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor. I would also like to thank them for their leadership on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and for helping me and helping us harness the capabilities of the Federal Government for the advancement of science and technology on behalf of the American people. Unfortunately, I will be parting with the committee. However, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on science and many other issues in the future. I commend them both and their staffs for all their assistance during these months, and I wish them all the best as they continue their great work. I really enjoyed my stay with that committee.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, on September 19 the House passed a Continuing Resolution to give us additional time to agree on a funding package for Fiscal Year 2020 without the disruption caused by a government shutdown. I am grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for including a provision to extend the application of the 100 percent FMAP to Puerto Rico's Medicaid Program for the next 7 weeks. We know that action was taken in recognition of the unfairness in which the Americans who live in the territories are treated by under our Medicaid program. Federal spending for Puerto Rico's Medicaid program will likely reach the $374 million-dollar cap before the expiration of the Continuing Resolution. Because of this, we must act quickly to approve H.R. 2328, which aligns the statutory spending cap with the actual program expenditures, in order to provide a more long-term solution for such an important federal program for our fellow Americans who depend on it.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Sergeant First Class Elis Barreto Ortiz, fallen in Afghanistan on September 5. When Sergeant Barreto enlisted 10 years ago, he followed the tradition of many Puerto Ricans, including his father, in answering the call to defend America. He served with distinction, earning many awards and the praise of his comrades. Now he joins those who also made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. The people of Puerto Rico share the pain that fills this hero's family in his small hometown of Morovis and his unit's base at Fort Bragg. Nothing can fill the void for his parents or his wife and children, but we must resolve that his sacrifice will be remembered and honored, and his memory will always endure. May you rest in peace, Sergeant Barreto, a hero and a proud Puerto Rican.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize Brigadier General Dustin A. Shultz of the 1st Mission Support Command in the Caribbean Army Reserve. Brig. General Shultz arrived in my Congressional district of Puerto Rico days before Hurricane Irma hit the Island on September of 2017. Since then, she has served tirelessly over the last two years, where she consolidated 5,000 Army reserves soldiers from around the Caribbean to become a united front. She quickly adapted and integrated herself seamlessly with the locals and led recovery efforts that were vital in our greatest moment of need. Since the beginning of her career in 1989, she has served as the Headquarters Company Commander of the 647th Area Support Group, as an Intelligence Analyst for JTF-N, and in 2007 became the Executive Officer of the 373rd MI Battalion under the 201st MI Brigade and just three years later, assumed command of the Battalion. She then served as a Joint Planner in the J9, supporting Haiti relief efforts. Finally, in 2017, she was promoted to Brigadier General and was appointed to Puerto Rico. Under her exemplary leadership, the 1st Mission Support Command was activated full time in Puerto Rico for the first time and has been carrying out relief efforts since. Throughout her career, Brig. General Shultz has been highly decorated with the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the General Douglas MacArthur leadership award among many others. Her command in Puerto Rico ends this August after 2 years of hard work and dedication. She will move on to become the Operations and Training Officer for the Army Reserve Command. As the sole representative from Puerto Rico, I thank her tremendously for all she has done and wish her much success in her next command.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves for working on these bills. This is an important one in Puerto Rico. I am really proud about the work the Coast Guard did during both Hurricanes Irma and Maria. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2019, which authorizes the service for the next 2 years, gives the Coast Guard parity with the other military branches in the Department of Defense, addresses a backlog of shore-side infrastructure, and reauthorizes the Federal Maritime Commission. I worked with Delegate Plaskett from the Virgin Islands to get on board to help determine if the Coast Guard's maritime surveillance hours used for drug interdictions in the Caribbean Basin meet mission requirements. The U.S. Coast Guard has been vital in addressing these threats and securing our maritime region as well. For example, during the first half of fiscal year 2019, the Coast Guard removed over 9 metric tons of cocaine and interdicted 722 migrants around the Puerto Rico area of operations. That is the reason I also was able to include a provision in this bill which ensures recruitment activities in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and all the territories as well. We are proud to answer the call to serve in our Nation's service branches, and the Coast Guard is no exception. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to thank Representative Peters and Ranking Member Meadows of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management for working on this critical legislation. As coming from one of those places that actually was impacted by a hurricane, I think this is one of the best ways to be accountable for the money that has been approved. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1984, the DISASTER Act, which requires the Office of Management and Budget to submit an annual report to Congress on all disaster-related assistance provided by the Federal Government. The report must include all Federal obligations related to disaster response recovery, mitigation efforts, and administrative costs associated with these activities for specified agencies and programs. A lot has been said about how much money has been allocated to many jurisdictions across the different Federal agencies, so having this tool will help us understand how much in funds have been approved and where that money is going. To date, Puerto Rico has been appropriated $42 billion in disaster funding; $20.6 billion has been obligated; and only $13.6 billion has been outlaid or reached the island's needs. Having this information in a single report will help Congress and the public better understand the real cost of natural disasters and the benefits of investing in mitigation and adaptation efforts as well. This legislation will also provide transparency and accountability when it comes to disaster relief costs. That is the reason I am a proud cosponsor. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Peters and Ranking Member Meadows.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a cosponsor to H.R. 1307--the Post-Disaster Assistance Online Accountability Act, which establishes a centralized location where Federal Agencies will publish information on disaster assistance. This legislation requires reports every 3 months, that are available to the public regarding the total amount of assistance provided by agencies, the amount of funding that obligated, and where the funds are going, including all projects or activities that received funding. To date, roughly 32 percent, or $13.6 billion, of all funding, $42 billion dollars, Congress has appropriated to Puerto Rico has actually been received by the communities and families who are trying to rebuild their lives on the island. With this legislation my constituents will know exactly how much funding is still expected to come to Puerto Rico and to their communities. They will be able to see the process that agencies are making for timely dispersals of funding and holding them accountable. Again, I want to thank Rep. Peters and Ranking Member Meadows again for their work on this Disaster recovery related bill.

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico

Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3196, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Designation Act, of which I am the co-lead alongside Chairwoman Johnson. Dr. Rubin exemplified perseverance and tenacity in science. As a woman scientist, she encountered many obstacles during her academic and professional career. As a student, her application to Princeton University was denied because, at the time, women were not allowed to enroll in the astrophysics graduate program of this institution. Similarly, years later, she had problems accessing the Palomar Observatory in California, one of the most iconic scientific facilities in the world, also because she was a woman. Experiences such as these would be enough to discourage a young student and scientist. Still, Dr. Rubin persevered, demonstrating exceptional intellectual capabilities and character. Dr. Vera Rubin changed the way we understand the universe. Her groundbreaking work on dark matter and galaxy rotations remain at the forefront of STEM research in the field of astronomy. Her legacy will undoubtedly continue to influence future generations of scientists and will hopefully be memorialized in the new Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) Observatory under construction in Chile. I am very much looking forward to the great work this facility will produce by researchers, like Dr. Rubin. I am immensely proud of this bill. Especially to be speaking about it today, July 23rd, on what would have been Dr. Rubin's 91st birthday. I believe highlighting the sacrifices and contributions women have made to the sciences is one of the many ways we can continue to foster their participation in STEM fields. Like multiple minorities, women face their own subset of challenges that hinder their decision to pursue or remain in STEM careers. This has a negative impact on the development and advancement of women in general, and in our economy by not capitalizing from the remarkable talent of women in STEM. I would like to thank Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas for their leadership and for moving this bill through Committee. As someone with a STEM background, and as a representative of many young girls and women who are either pursuing or interested in pursuing a career in STEM--I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill signed into law. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor.