[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 152 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E986-E987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING LUIS ABINADER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. NELLIE POU

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 24, 2026

  Ms. POU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome His Excellency Luis 
Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, to New Jersey on the 
occasion of his first official visit to our state and to recognize his 
distinguished record of service.
  President Abinader was first elected President of the Dominican 
Republic in 2020 and was reelected in 2024. An economist and

[[Page E987]]

businessman by training, he has brought his experience to public office 
with a focus on government reform and expanding opportunity for the 
Dominican people.
  During his presidency, the Dominican Republic has pursued investments 
in infrastructure and access to drinking water while modernizing its 
national power grid. His administration has also worked to increase 
foreign investment and promote transparency and public accountability. 
In 2024, President Abinader helped enact constitutional reforms 
preserving presidential term limits and providing greater independence 
for the Attorney General's Office.
  President Abinader's visit carries special meaning in New Jersey. Our 
state is home to one of the largest Dominican communities in the United 
States. Among them are thousands of families in North Jersey who 
contribute enormously to the economic and cultural life of our state. 
The bonds between our nations are renewed every day by these families 
and the enduring connections they maintain with the Dominican Republic.
  Today, William Paterson University welcomes President Abinader to its 
campus and presents him with its Presidential Medal. The occasion also 
celebrates the lasting ties between the Dominican Republic and 
Dominicans abroad.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join New Jersey's Dominican community in 
marking President Luis Abinader's first official visit to our state. I 
extend my best wishes to President Abinader and the people of the 
Dominican Republic and look forward to the continued friendship between 
our nations.