[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S5537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING BORICUACTIVATED

 Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, democracy is a precious concept, 
serving as the foundation of our freedoms, which we must not take for 
granted. Democracy's success is dependent on the active participation 
of our communities--people of all different backgrounds and beliefs.
  I am proud to recognize an organization that inspires members of our 
diverse communities to take an active role in our democratic process, 
BoricuActivatEd.
  Five years ago, BoricuActivatEd was created amid a crisis: the 
aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria's destruction of Puerto Rico. In 
a matter of days, the island was on the brink of total disaster, and 
the former administration that held the keys to alleviating the 
suffering dragged their heels and closed their eyes.
  Like many within the Puerto Rican diaspora that watched the U.S. 
Government's response in disbelief, a group of former congressional 
staffers--led by Jennice Fuentes--knew action had to be taken and 
mobilized. Much remains to be done as Puerto Rico continues to rebuild 
and recover, especially now after Hurricane Fiona, but it is undeniable 
that BoricuActivatEd has had an outsized impact in bringing attention 
to the island's crisis.
  BoricuActivatEd operates on the idea that each individual should 
decide and advocate on the issues that resonate most with them. And 
that is the ingenuity of this organization, keeping true to its 
commitment to promoting participatory democracy.
  BoricuActivatEd gives individuals across the country the tools they 
need to stand up and speak out, teaching them the value of civic 
engagement and the techniques needed to succeed.
  They believe that it is never too early to teach people no matter who 
they are or where they were born that they, too, can play a role in 
shaping our country. I am especially proud that, when BoricuActivatEd 
introduced a school-based curriculum on participatory democracy, they 
chose the students of Camden, NJ, as their first student participants.
  It is undeniable that learning best practices in civic engagement is 
valuable to people of all ages and backgrounds. But we, as the elected 
representatives of the United States, stand to gain as we navigate our 
roles as public servants, guided by the priorities of our civically 
engaged constituents.
  I extend my congratulations to BoricuActivatEd for 5 impactful years, 
showing us that their success is a success for our Nation, and I cannot 
wait to see all they accomplish in the years ahead.

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