[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H589-H590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PUERTO RICO'S OUTDATED ELECTRIC GRID

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Puerto Rico (Mr. Hernandez) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, imagine it is New Year's Eve, and you are 
full of hope and optimism. This will be your year. You might finally 
get that promotion or you will graduate. You might finally lose those 
extra pounds.
  All of a sudden, the power goes out. You are used to it. It is maybe 
the first time it happens that day. It probably isn't the first time it 
happens that week. It certainly isn't the first time it happens that 
year.
  The hours go by, and the power doesn't come back. The clock strikes 
12, you hear the fireworks, you hear the countdowns, but when you try 
to turn on the power, it doesn't turn back on.
  That was the sad reality of nearly 1.2 million Puerto Ricans on New 
Year's Eve. That is the sad reality that many thousands of Puerto 
Ricans will face on an average day. Why? Because of an outdated power 
grid and a slow recovery process after Hurricane Maria.
  Puerto Rico's energy crisis is not a partisan issue. The left can 
treat it as a humanitarian crisis. The right can see it as an obstacle 
to making America great again. The center can view it as both.
  It is a problem and it needs a solution, which is why I, alongside 
Representatives Torres and Soto, sent a letter to the administration in 
support of our Republican Governor's request

[[Page H590]]

for a federal emergency declaration to address this crisis.
  We urge the administration to act. We urge the administration to 
unblock the Federal resources that Puerto Rico needs to address this 
problem. We urge the administration to empower the people of Puerto 
Rico to be able to overcome this issue.
  Now, for the benefit of my constituents, I will repeat my remarks in 
Spanish.
  (Spanish translation of the statement made in English is as follows:)
  Senor presidente,
  Imagina que es la vispera de Ano Nuevo.
  Estas lleno de esperanza y optimismo. Este sera tu ano. Vas a 
terminar la escuela; conseguiras ese ascenso; tal vez, finalmente, 
perderas esas libras de mas.
  Y, de repente, se va la luz. Puede que sea la primera vez que pasa 
ese dia, pero probablemente no es la primera vez que pasa esa semana y, 
sin duda, no es la primera vez que pasa ese ano.
  Lamentablemente, ya estas acostumbrado. Pero pasan las horas y la luz 
no regresa.
  El reloj marca la medianoche, ves los fuegos artificiales, escuchas 
la cuenta regresiva, pero no puedes encender las luces. Recibes el 
nuevo ano con un sentimiento de desesperanza, frustracion y 
desconsuelo.
  Esa fue la triste realidad de casi 1.2 millones de puertorriquenos el 
31 de diciembre.
  Esa es la triste realidad de miles de puertorriquenos muchas veces al 
ano.
  qPor que? Por una red electrica anticuada y una recuperacion lenta 
despues del huracan Maria.
  Este no es un asunto partidista. La izquierda puede verlo como un 
asunto humanitario. La derecha puede verlo como un obstaculo para 
``Make America Great Again''. El centro puede verlo como ambas cosas. 
No importa; esto es un problema y necesita una solucion.
  Por eso, junto a los representantes Torres y Soto, envie una carta al 
presidente Trump en apoyo a la solicitud de la gobernadora republicana 
de Puerto Rico para que se declare una emergencia federal debido a la 
crisis energetica de la isla.
  Instamos a la administracion a actuar. Los instamos a declarar un 
estado de emergencia, liberar recursos federales, y empoderar a Puerto 
Rico a enfrentar este reto.

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