OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026

Floor Speech

Date: Jan. 8, 2026
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill because investing in energy infrastructure, education, and public safety is not optional. It is essential.

Mr. Speaker, I will focus on what this bill does for the people of Puerto Rico. I have the honor to represent them in the United States Congress.

This bill incorporates one of my amendments and assigns $235 million for the Department of Energy to support grid modernization in the 50 States and Puerto Rico, which so direly needs it.

This bill also incorporates another of my amendments to provide $14 million to the Corps of Engineers that could support water infrastructure projects in Puerto Rico, which so direly needs it.

In this bill, we also secured $1.7 million in community project funding that updates crime prevention technology in Juana Diaz, provides new patrol vehicles in Cabo Rojo, and supports STEM education in San Juan.

This bill is an important step in delivering Federal funding for Puerto Rico and communities across the United States. I praise the bipartisan work led by the chairman and ranking member. Let's continue marching forward and finish the six remaining bills. The American people deserve a Congress that works for them.

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