[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H4043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
                     FOOD INSECURITY IN PUERTO RICO

  (Mrs. RAMIREZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, the Third Congressional District of 
Illinois is home to a historic Puerto Rican community directly linked 
to the legacy, present, and future of Puerto Rico.
  The lack of food sovereignty in Puerto Rico is a policy choice that 
threatens lives and livelihoods.
  When I visited Puerto Rico last year, I was shocked to learn that 
food insecurity was a major motivation for the second biggest Puerto 
Rican migration since the 1950s.
  Mr. Speaker, 85 percent of their food is imported, and Puerto Rico is 
subjected to much higher grocery prices. When Hurricane Maria hit, food 
imports couldn't come in. Many of my Puerto Rican constituents came to 
Chicago because of Hurricane Maria and because of food insecurity.
  This body has the responsibility to act now on supporting food 
sovereignty in Puerto Rico. We can start today by using every 
legislative tool at our disposal through the upcoming farm bill.

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