[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 99 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H4100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         EATING IS A BASIC NEED

  (Mr. HERNANDEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  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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