[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 11, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H1725-H1726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               DISTURBING EVENTS IN PUERTO RICAN POLITICS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Blackburn). Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo-Vila) is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA. Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to the 
attention of this body some disturbing events in Puerto Rican politics 
during recent years. Specifically, I will talk about the corrupt and 
unethical actions of Puerto Rico's statehood leaders. I would like to 
start by saying that for many years Puerto Rico enjoyed an impeccable 
reputation of clean government. I am sad to say that this tradition was 
tainted by former Governor Pedro Rossello and his administration. 
During his administration, as Puerto Rico later discovered, there were 
many corruption schemes and rotten administrators pocketing millions of 
Federal and local funds. The irony is that the leadership of the 
Statehood Party, the party led by Governor Rossello for almost 10 
years, became the leaders of the first corrupt government in the 
history of Puerto Rico. A party that claims to admire American 
democracy, a party that wants Puerto Rico to become a State of the 
union, was the party that embezzled Federal funds that belonged to our 
elders, our sick, and our children.
  In 1997, the statehooders came to Washington to push for a statehood 
bill. They used millions of dollars in lobbying and political support 
to convince Congress that all Puerto Ricans wanted to become a State 
and used millions to silence the other voices from Puerto Rico. Now we 
know that this campaign was partially financed by illegal money.
  It is amazing that, even today, the leaders of the Statehood Party 
are unwilling to recognize the depth of the corruption and continue to 
try to spin the issue as one of political persecution. They have gone 
as far as accusing the U.S. District Attorney's office in Puerto Rico 
of promoting prosecutions just for political reasons. They have no 
remorse.
  As a result of the Federal and local investigations of this statehood 
corruption scheme, during the last months we have witnessed the 
conviction and indictment of many of the highest-ranking statehood 
leaders. In this chart, you will be able to see how far corruption went 
under the Statehood Party's government in the island. This is the 
Statehood Party's Hall of Shame. The list of corrupt officials and the 
depth of the corruption are impressive. Here are some of the cases.
  In the legislative branch, Speaker Edison Misla-Aldarrondo, Speaker 
of the House, convicted.
  Jose Granados-Navedo, Vice President of the House, resigned under 
scandal.
  Norberto Nieves, legislator, convicted.
  Jose Nunez, legislator, indicted.
  Anibal Marrero, Vice President of the Senate, resigned under scandal.
  Senator Victor Marrero, convicted.
  Senator Freddie Valentin, convicted.
  Let us see the executive branch: The personal assistant to the 
Governor, Angie Rivera, the person that had the key to the Governor's 
office, convicted.
  Marcos Morell, secretary-general, executive director of the party, 
disbarred by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico because of conflict of 
interest doing business with the government.
  Bernardo Negron, president of the Federation of Statehood Party 
Mayors, convicted.
  Andres Barbeito, director of the Pensions Administration, indicted.
  Luis Dubon, the owner of the Statehood Party headquarters building, 
convicted.
  Angel Luis Ocasio, deputy chief of staff to the Governor, convicted.
  Eduardo Burgos, another deputy chief of staff to the Governor, 
convicted.
  Jose Cobian, deputy finance director of the Statehood Party, 
indicted.
  Victor Fajardo, Secretary of Education, convicted.
  Oscar Ramos, administrator of the State Insurance Fund, under special 
prosecutor investigation.
  Daniel Pagan, secretary of the Natural Resources Department, 
indicted.
  Although Mr. Rossello has not been indicted, the extension of these 
corruption schemes leads to one of two possible explanations: number 
one, he was part of this scheme; or, number two, he is such an inept 
administrator that he should not be trusted again with the duty of 
managing a government or any institution.
  When I first arrived as a freshman in Congress 2 years ago, I was 
informed that millions of dollars in Federal funds had been frozen or 
were at risk of being frozen because of this situation. The task of 
Governor Calderon and me was to assure compliance with Federal 
requirements to make the funds once again available. The projects and 
programs affected include child care, nutritional assistance, title I, 
Head Start, TANF, the urban train project, housing and E-rate.
  After just 2 years, our efforts brought the desired results: the new 
administration in Puerto Rico implemented measures to comply with the 
Federal programs' requirements and the Federal Government of Puerto 
Rico was able to receive the frozen funds.
  I want to clarify that the Statehood Party Hall of Shame has nothing 
to do with the national parties here. It is a cancer in the statehood 
movement. For example, Pedro Rossello was a well-known and active 
Democrat, and Edison Misla-Aldarrondo, the former Speaker of the House, 
was the Republican Party National Committee man. The common denominator 
is they belong to the leadership of the Statehood Party.
  When the leaders of the Statehood Party come to Washington to lobby 
behind the backs of the people of Puerto Rico, I urge you to ask them, 
where were they when their party leaders were using Federal funds for 
personal and political purposes?

  Remarks of Congressman Anibal Acevedo-Vila To Be Entered Into Record

  Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of this body 
some disturbing events in Puerto Rican politics during recent years. 
Specifically, I will talk about the corrupt and unethical actions of 
Puerto Rico's statehood leaders.
  I would like to start by saying that for many years Puerto Rico 
enjoyed an impecable reputation of clean government and true public 
service. Leaders such as Luis Munoz Marin, Roberto Sanchez, Rafael 
Hernandez Colon, and Luis Ferre, earned the trust and respect of the 
people for their honesty in the management of the public treasure.
  I am sad to say that this tradition was tainted by former Governor 
Pedro Rossello and his administration. In 1992 Mr. Rossello took office 
with a platform of government reform and ambitious public projects. He 
governed until the year 2000. During his administration, as Puerto Rico 
later discovered, there were many corruption schemes and rotten 
administrators pocketing millions of federal and local funds.
  The irony is that the leadership of the Statehood party--the party 
lead by Governor Rossello for almost 10 years--became the leaders of 
the first corrupt government in the history of Puerto Rico. A party 
that claims to admire American democracy, a party that wants Puerto 
Rico to become a state of the Union was the party that embezzled 
federal funds that belonged to our elders, our sick and our children!
  In 1997, the statehooders came to Washington to push for a statehood 
bill. They used millions of dollars in lobbying and in political 
support to convince Congress that all Puerto Ricans wanted to become a 
state and used millions to silence the other voices from Puerto Rico. 
For years many of you in Congress witnessed the costly and aggressive 
campaign that the Puerto Rico statehood leaders orchestrated to 
advocate for statehood. Now we know that this campaign was partially 
financed by illegal money. I wonder how much more of that money was 
dirty money!
  Moreover, Mr. Rossello disregarded for years pleas by the opposition, 
by the press, by the civil society in general to investigate his 
government and his party. Instead of looking into the allegations he 
decided to conceal the facts, to protect his friend and to defend the 
corrupt members of his administration. Fortunately the federal 
authorities did their job in investigating and prosecuting the 
criminals and the people of Puerto Rico judged the statehood party in 
the polls.
  It is amazing that even today the leaders of the statehood party are 
unwilling to recognize the depth of the corruption, and continue to try 
to spin the issue as one of political persecution. They have gone as 
far as accusing the US District Attorney's Office for the District of 
Puerto Rico of promoting prosecutions just for political reasons. They 
have openly said that the Federal Court system and local authorities 
are part of a conspiracy to criminalize statehood, again showing an 
utter disregard for the truth. They showed no remorse!
  Do not get me wrong, the statehood movement is a legitimate movement 
and has many

[[Page H1726]]

decent and honest members. Unfortunately for them, their leaders have 
betrayed their cause. There is no conspiracy to criminalize statehood, 
in fact, most of the convicted officials pleaded guilty in court before 
their sentences. There is a duty to prosecute the criminals that have 
hidden behind the statehood banner to steal money and for their own 
corrupt purposes. It is this leadership that I indict today. This 
statehood leadership that has inflicted the most damage to the 
statehood cause in Puerto Rico and the United States.
  As a result of the federal and local investigations of this statehood 
corruption scheme, during the last months we have witnessed the 
conviction and indictment of many of the highest-ranking statehood 
leaders, including the personal assistant to former Governor Rossello, 
two of the former Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff, the former Speaker 
of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and former National 
Committeeman of the Republican Party in the Island, and the former 
Secretary of Education that pleaded guilty, to stealing at least $4.3 
million of federal Title I funds for his benefit and the benefit of the 
Statehood Party.
  In this chart you will be able to see how far corruption went under 
the statehood party's government in the Island. This is the Statehood's 
Party Hall of Shame. The list of corrupt officials and the depth of the 
corruption are impressive. Here are some of the cases that have been 
brought to Justice so far.


                           Legislative Branch

  Mr. Edison Misla-Aldarrondo (Speaker, PR House of Rep. And National 
Committeeman, Republican Party Puerto Rico Committee) Convicted
  2. Mr. Anibal Marrero (Vice President, Puerto Rico Senate) Resigned 
under scandal.
  3. Mr. Jose Granados-Navedo (Vice President, Puerto Rico House of 
Reps.) Resigned under scandal.
  4. Mr. Norberto Nieves (Member, PR House of Rep.) Convicted.

  5. Mr. Freddie Valentin (Senator, PR Senate) Pleaded guilty.
  6. Mr. Victor Marrero (Senator, PR Senate) Convicted.
  7. Mr. Jose Nunez (Member, PR house of Reps.) Indicted.


                            executive branch

  1. Ms. Maria de los Angeles ``Angie'' Rivera (Personal and closest 
assistant of Governor Rossello) Convicted.
  2. Mr. Victor Fajardo (Secretary, Department of Education) Pleaded 
guilty.
  3. Mr. Daniel Pagan (Secretary, Department of Natural Resources and 
Environment) Indicted.
  4. Mr. Andres Barbeito (Director, Government Pensions Administration) 
Convicted.
  5. Mr. Eduardo Burgos (Former Deputy Chief of Staff; Director, 
Municipal Revenues Collection Center) Convicted.
  6. Mr. Luis Dubon (Owner, Statehood Party Headquarters' Building) 
Convicted.
  7. Mr. Jose Cobian (Deputy Finances Director, New Progressive Party) 
Convicted.
  8. Mr. Angel Luis Ocasio-Ramos (Deputy Chief of Staff, Governor 
Rossello's Office) Convicted.
  9. Marcos Morell (Former Executive Director of the Statehood Party) 
Disbarred by the Puerto Rico Supreme Court for a conflict of interest 
doing business with the Rossello administration.
  10. Bernardo Negron (President, Federation of Statehood Party Mayors) 
Convicted.
  Although Mr. Rossello has not been indicted, the extension of the 
corruption leads to one or two possible explanations: 1) he was part of 
the corruption scheme; or 2) he is such an inept administrator that he 
should not be trusted again with the duty of managing a government.
  During the investigation in cases such as the Secretary of Education 
scandal, the federal prosecutors found evidence that at least $1 
million from federal funds were funneled into NPP (Statehood Party) 
coffers. It is widely know in Puerto Rico that the Secretary of 
Education was a leader in the Statehood Party's GOTV efforts during the 
political status plebiscite and the general elections.
  The widespread corruption that I just described had a negative impact 
in many federal grants and programs that Puerto Rico was entitled to 
receive. When I first arrived as a freshman in Congress, I was informed 
that millions of dollars in federal funds had been frozen or at risk of 
being frozen because of this situation. The task of Governor Sila M. 
Calderon and myself was to assure compliance with federal requirements 
to make the funds once again available. The projects and programs 
affected include Child Care, the Nutritional Assistance Program, Head 
Start, TANF, the Urban Train Project, Housing and E Rate.
  After just two years our efforts brought the desired results, the new 
Administration in Puerto Rico implemented the measures to comply with 
the federal programs' requirements and the Government of Puerto Rico 
was able to receive the frozen funds.
  To do this is difficult to me as a Puerto Rican because the Puerto 
Ricans are a decent people, hard working people, an honest people. I 
know that this information may feed some unfair stereotypes. But 
Congress needs to be cognizant of the truth and I trust that the 
members of this House will be discerning and will not generalize based 
on a sad, but isolated case in our history. As a matter of fact, the 
way this Congress has treated Puerto Rico recently, authorizing the 
highest increase of federal funds for the Island in the Title I 
education program and appropriating funds for other important programs 
is a clear showing that Congress has recognized that Puerto Rico's 
government is back in good and clean hands. I am here to clear the name 
of Puerto Rico and to explain how we have extirpated the cancer of 
corruption.
  What are we doing? We are cleaning up house and making sure it never 
happens again. As a result of the corruption scandals in former 
Governor Rossello's administration, Sila M. Calderon ran for Governor 
of Puerto Rico with the goal of providing the Puerto Rican people with 
a transparent government. She has dedicated the past two years to 
implementing tough measures to restore public confidence in government.
  I want to clarify that the statehood party hall of shame has nothing 
to do with the national parties. It is a cancer in the statehood 
movement. For example, Pedro Rossello was a well-known and active 
Democrat; and Edison Misla, former Speaker of the House was the 
Republican Party National Committee man in Puerto Rico. The common 
denominator is that they belong to the leadership of the statehood 
party.
  Although the statehood leadership periodically comes to this capital 
to express their esteem for the U.S., they misunderstand the values 
that the American flag represents.
  When the leaders of the statehood party come again to Washington to 
lobby behind the backs of the people of Puerto Rico I urge you to ask 
them where were they when their party leaders were using federal funds 
for personal and political purposes. Ask them why did they remain in 
silence? Why they did nothing to fight corruption? Why are they 
supporting Pedro Rossello's comeback to Puerto Rican politics, the 
person responsible for this disaster?

                          ____________________