OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Eating is A Basic Need

Floor Speech

Date: June 11, 2026
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, yesterday students from the University of Puerto Rico gave me this graduation cap. It says: I want to graduate without hunger.

Eating is a basic need. Puerto Rico is not eligible for SNAP. As a result, many people, including our students, have to choose between buying a textbook or buying food. We are working to change that, and today I have very important news.

For the first time in this initiative's history, we have a Republican cosponsor in the Senate, and I thank Senator Roger Wicker for joining Senator Gillibrand and 17 other Democrats in extending nutrition fairness for Puerto Rico. I thank the Senate Republicans as well and 58 Democrats who cosponsored my bill to extend SNAP to Puerto Rico.

The fight goes on. We are making progress, and the people have hope.

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