MEDIA ADVISORY: Ranking Member Grijalva to Visit Puerto Rico
Washington, D.C. – On June 26-28, 2023, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) will visit Puerto Rico to meet with local elected officials and other stakeholders to discuss the Puerto Rico Status Act and the $1 billion Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund. Additional background information on both is provided below. Ranking Member Grijalva will attend meetings on other federal legislative and oversight priorities as well, including Puerto Rico’s reconstruction, access to federal programs and resources, and the implementation of Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA).
Media interested in the following press opportunities should contact Lindsay.Gressard@mail.house.gov for additional details, including locations.
PRESS OPPORTUNITIES
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Monday, June 26 San Juan, PR |
Approximately 4:15 p.m. (or later) - Press Conference with Governor Pierluisi at La Fortaleza (open to credentialed press)
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Tuesday, June 27 San Juan, PR |
1-3:00 p.m. Roundtable Open to Press at Corona Commercial Park, Calle Progreso, #54, Santurce, PR Ranking Member Grijalva and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón will attend a roundtable with disability organizations and local renewable energy allies to discuss the importance of the $1 billion Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund. The roundtable is hosted by Movimiento para el Alcance de Vida Independiente (MAVI) and will include the following panelists: Sociedad de Educación y Rehabilitación, Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB), Solar Energy and Storage Association, Ruth Santiago, Cambio PR, Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Federation, El Centro Pro Vida Independiente, Inc. (CEPVI), and Children and Families Dependent on Energy Program. 3-4:00 p.m. Press Availability at Corona Commercial Park, Calle Progreso, #54, Santurce, PR Following the roundtable, Ranking Member Grijalva will be available to speak to press. |
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Wednesday, June 28 San Juan, PR |
3-4:00 p.m. Press Availability at Centro de Convenciones de San Juan Following meetings with local stakeholders on the Puerto Rico Status Act and other priorities, Ranking Member Grijalva will be available to speak to press. |
Additional Background on the Puerto Rico Status Act
Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. Territory status limits the island’s full political, economic, and social development. Puerto Rico’s territory status has implications for many aspects of life, including access to federal resources and services, voting power, political representation, foreign affairs, trade, and immigration policy.
On April 20, 2023, Ranking Member Grijalva introduced the Puerto Rico Status Act (H.R. 2757) with original cosponsors Resident Commissioner González-Colón, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.). The legislation, which passed the House last year with bipartisan support, represents a historic offer from Congress to the people living in Puerto Rico to make an informed decision about their political future. The bill lays out the process for voters to make that decision and requires Congress to follow through with the will of the majority of voters.
Additional Background on the $1 Billion Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund
In the aftermath of hurricanes and other natural disasters in recent years, solar power has helped many residents and businesses in Puerto Rico keep the lights on. For those with electric medical devices or medications requiring refrigeration, including people with disabilities, a reliable source of power can be lifesaving.
In October 2022, Ranking Member Grijalva led a 38-member letter to then-Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) requesting federal funding for rooftop solar and battery storage for low-income households and households with disabilities in Puerto Rico.
Following that request, the FY2024 government funding omnibus bill included $1 billion for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to improve the resilience of Puerto Rico’s electric grid by purchasing and installing renewable energy, energy storage and other grid technologies for residents who are low-income or have a disability. DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm has visited Puerto Rico this year to discuss next steps for implementation of this funding.
Press Contact
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