Latinos United for Immigration Reform

July 28, 2015 LATINO LEADERS URGE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT PUERTO RICO

 

LATINO LEADERS URGE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT PUERTO RICO

Unity Press Conferences Held in Washington, Orlando and New York

Washington, D.C. –The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, held a press conference with Congressional, Puerto Rican, and labor leaders today calling on President Obama and Congress to take action to save Puerto Rico and its 3.5 million U.S. Citizens from economic disaster. 

As Puerto Rico continues to endure a growing economic crisis that includes a $72 billion debt, major unemployment, and population drain, Puerto Ricans and Latinos on the mainland are growing impatient with Washington as leaders have failed to step up to assist millions of American citizens living on the island. 

Similar events were held in major Puerto Rican hubs across the nation including New York City and Orlando, where the Puerto Rican population has skyrocketed in recent years and has become an increasingly powerful voting bloc in the key swing state of Florida. The U.S. is home to 8 million Puerto Ricans and 55 million Latinos, many of whom are watching closely to see how government leaders and Presidential candidates respond to the growing economic crisis on the island. 

Today’s speakers presented a set of actions Congress and the Obama Administration should take to support the island during this crisis, which include investing federal funds on the island for health, energy and other needs, facilitating a fair debt repayment and relief plan, eliminating economically-handicapping policies like the well-documented, costly Jones Act shipping requirements, and granting bankruptcy protection for the island, which Puerto Rico is currently not allowed to pursue. On July 16, NHLA sent a letter to President Obama and Congressional leadership outlining these recommendations for addressing the financial crisis.

Recommendations to President Obama and Congress:

  • President Obama must commit to a federal investment plan that addresses underlying fiscal issues and grows the economy with good-paying jobs including Medicaid/health care investments, clean energy development, and cleaning up Vieques & Culebra. 
  • Congress must eliminate federal policies that put the island at an economic disadvantage including amending the Jones Act costly shipping requirements.
  • Congress must pass legislation to grant Puerto Rico a Chapter 9 Bankruptcy option (Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Uniformity Act-H.R. 870, introduced by Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Charles Schumer).
  • President Obama must convene his Working Group on Financial Markets to bring all parties to the table to negotiate a fair debt repayment and relief deal and explore a Federal Reserve loan
  • President Obama and Congress should oppose severe austerity and wage reduction proposals like the Krueger Plan that would hurt poor and working families

“It is time for Congress and the President to stand up and do their duty to support our fellow Americans by giving Puerto Rico the tools to resolve its debt crisis, including the same tools available to other jurisdictions of the United States,” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.  

Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) stated, “Puerto Rico’s fiscal problems are unprecedented and require bold, immediate action.  Not only are Puerto Ricans suffering from this crisis, but should the situation continue deteriorating, there could be wide-ranging consequences for the broader American economy.  All Puerto Ricans are speaking with one voice in calling on the federal government to address these challenges swiftly.”

“As a U.S. territory, the Puerto Rican economy is intimately linked to the mainland’s economy. Congress and the federal government can’t afford to ignore this issue and the needs of the millions of Puerto Ricans that live on the island and the rest of the United States. What we are asking for is equality for Puerto Rico so that it can have the rights, tools, and financial resources it needs to successfully address the economic crisis. Our message is simple and straightforward: Congress and the United States government has to act,” said Congressman José E. Serrano.

“To deny Puerto Rico a helping hand during this crisis is to deny American citizens the economic safety net they need and should have a right to.  We urge Washington to act immediately to address this situation, taking our recommendations into consideration. They cannot continue to ignore the needs of the island, abandoning millions of citizens, and then turn around to ask for the Latino vote,” stated José Calderón, President of Hispanic Federation.

“Puerto Rico has been in a recession longer than any state of union and its ability to tackle those economic woes is hampered by its unequal treatment in Congress. Congress and The White House have the fiscal and moral responsibility to provide the tools to help stabilize and kickstart the Puerto Rican economy,” said Rafael A. Fantauzzi President and CEO of the National Puerto Rican Coalition. “It is unacceptable that we are more worried about the financial burdens of other countries and continue to ignore the 3.5 million proud Americans that live in American soil.”

“I want to thank the NHLA, and the coalition of Latino organizations that are its backbone, for urging the President and Congress to empower the U.S. jurisdiction of Puerto Rico to address its economic crisis.  I am particularly grateful that the NHLA has endorsed my legislative efforts to authorize Puerto Rico to permit its public enterprises to seek relief under Chapter 9 of the federal bankruptcy code; to provide more equitable treatment to Puerto Rico under federal health programs like Medicaid and Medicare; and to increase the number of maritime vessels that would be able to transport energy supplies, agricultural products and other bulk cargo between ports in Puerto Rico and other U.S. ports,” said Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s sole representative in Congress.

“It is vital that Congress take action to prevent a humanitarian and financial catastrophe in Puerto Rico,” said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). “This is a clearly avoidable disaster that will harm creditors, investors and ordinary citizens if Congress fails to act. My bill with Senator Schumer, The Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Uniformity Act, would enable an orderly, rational restructuring of Puerto Rico’s debt, instead of a financial free for all and potential free fall, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to accept this common-sense measure.”

“Puerto Rico is part of the United States and its residents have fought valiantly in every war since World War I,” said Juan Cartagena, President and General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF. "We give tax breaks to hedge funds while asking Puerto Rican residents to live a more austere life. Further deterioration of the island’s economy will only exacerbate a growing migration from the island and will further increase state and federal costs as a result. Therefore, inaction is not an option.”

“What is happening to our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico is of great concern to Latinos and other Americans across the country. We ask the Administration and the Congress to make relief for the island a priority now,” stated Janet Murguia, President and CEO, NCLR.

The following officials and organizations participated in today’s press conference:

  • Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement
  • José Calderón, President of Hispanic Federation
  • The Honorable Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), U.S. House of Representatives
  • The Honorable Jose Serrano (D-NY), U.S. House of Representatives
  • Rafael Fantauzzi, President & CEO, National Puerto Rican Coalition
  • Eric Rodriguez, Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation, NCLR
  • Ronald Blackburn Moreno, President, ASPIRA
  • Jaime Contreras, Vice President, SEIU 32BJ 
  • Puerto Rico Senator Ramón Luis Nieves
  • Jose Perez, LatinoJustice PRLDEF
  • Gretchen Sierra-Zurita, Director of Diversity Media Initiative, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts

 

# # # 

Established in 1991, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) brings together Hispanic leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit www.nationalhispanicleadership.organd LatinosUnited.org and follow @NHLAgenda.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

 

| Teresa Acuña | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 508-6917 |

| Brenda Arredondo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 587-4945 |

 

American GI Forum | ASPIRA Association, Inc. | Avance | Casa de Esperanza | Cuban American National Council | Farmworker Justice | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | Latino Justice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund | National Alliance of Latin American & Caribbean Communities | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Council of La Raza | National Hispana Leadership Institute | National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators | National Hispanic Council on Aging | National Hispanic Environmental Council | National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts | National Hispanic Media Coalition | National Hispanic Medical Association | National Institute for Latino Policy | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc. | Presente.org | SER – Jobs for Progress National, Inc. | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.-Mexico Foundation

 

 

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