Puerto Rico's Outdated Electric Grid

Floor Speech

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Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, imagine it is New Year's Eve, and you are full of hope and optimism. This will be your year. You might finally get that promotion or you will graduate. You might finally lose those extra pounds.

All of a sudden, the power goes out. You are used to it. It is maybe the first time it happens that day. It probably isn't the first time it happens that week. It certainly isn't the first time it happens that year.

The hours go by, and the power doesn't come back. The clock strikes 12, you hear the fireworks, you hear the countdowns, but when you try to turn on the power, it doesn't turn back on.

That was the sad reality of nearly 1.2 million Puerto Ricans on New Year's Eve. That is the sad reality that many thousands of Puerto Ricans will face on an average day. Why? Because of an outdated power grid and a slow recovery process after Hurricane Maria.

Puerto Rico's energy crisis is not a partisan issue. The left can treat it as a humanitarian crisis. The right can see it as an obstacle to making America great again. The center can view it as both.

It is a problem and it needs a solution, which is why I, alongside Representatives Torres and Soto, sent a letter to the administration in support of our Republican Governor's request for a federal emergency declaration to address this crisis.

We urge the administration to act. We urge the administration to unblock the Federal resources that Puerto Rico needs to address this problem. We urge the administration to empower the people of Puerto Rico to be able to overcome this issue.

Now, for the benefit of my constituents, I will repeat my remarks in Spanish.

(Spanish translation of the statement made in English is as follows:)

Senor presidente,

Imagina que es la vispera de Ano Nuevo.

Estas lleno de esperanza y optimismo. Este sera tu ano. Vas a terminar la escuela; conseguiras ese ascenso; tal vez, finalmente, perderas esas libras de mas.

Y, de repente, se va la luz. Puede que sea la primera vez que pasa ese dia, pero probablemente no es la primera vez que pasa esa semana y, sin duda, no es la primera vez que pasa ese ano.

Lamentablemente, ya estas acostumbrado. Pero pasan las horas y la luz no regresa.

El reloj marca la medianoche, ves los fuegos artificiales, escuchas la cuenta regresiva, pero no puedes encender las luces. Recibes el nuevo ano con un sentimiento de desesperanza, frustracion y desconsuelo.

Esa fue la triste realidad de casi 1.2 millones de puertorriquenos el 31 de diciembre.

Esa es la triste realidad de miles de puertorriquenos muchas veces al ano.

qPor que? Por una red electrica anticuada y una recuperacion lenta despues del huracan Maria.

Este no es un asunto partidista. La izquierda puede verlo como un asunto humanitario. La derecha puede verlo como un obstaculo para ``Make America Great Again''. El centro puede verlo como ambas cosas. No importa; esto es un problema y necesita una solucion.

Por eso, junto a los representantes Torres y Soto, envie una carta al presidente Trump en apoyo a la solicitud de la gobernadora republicana de Puerto Rico para que se declare una emergencia federal debido a la crisis energetica de la isla.

Instamos a la administracion a actuar. Los instamos a declarar un estado de emergencia, liberar recursos federales, y empoderar a Puerto Rico a enfrentar este reto.

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