For the first time since 2000, Puerto Ricans have elected permanent members (non-voting delegates) to Congress who oppose Puerto Rico's statehood and believe it should focus on different priorities.
That's me.
Puerto Ricans are simply tired of futile status disputes. Rather than waste time on the campaign trail dealing with Puerto Rico's political status, I will focus on promoting new avenues for economic development on the island, ensuring equal treatment in federal programs, and delivering electricity. He vowed to put more emphasis on accelerating the spending of federal funds on the grid. Reconstruction.
People listened and agreed. The pro-British Commonwealth People's Democratic Party won by the largest margin since 1964 in the election for residents' committee. Therefore, my mission is to put aside national status and prioritize economic development.
My predecessor and current governor-elect, Jennifer González Colón, a pro-national New Progressive Republican, agrees with me on the urgent need for economic development, but she There are conflicting opinions on the issue. Her position is that states' authority “won” in the recent non-binding referendum, and she will therefore demand that Congress respect the people's “mandate.”
Let's clarify this “mission” with honest facts.
4 years ago 52 percent of Puerto Ricans voted for statehood. With a simple “yes” or “no” vote. This year, that number down to 47 percentwhen counting blank or invalid ballots cast by thousands of people in protest of the island's current exclusion from federal status, or the non-binding nature of the referendum. As a result, support for statehood fell below 50%.
The lack of a clear mandate, declining support, and Republican opposition to statehood in Washington state would be enough to suspend all discussion on the subject. Instead, we need to focus on a more productive agenda that addresses the island's real priorities and issues and how it can support rather than rely on the mainland.
The nearshoring vs. reshoring debate presents an opportunity. bipartisan projects such as Supply Chain Security and Growth ActIt provides investment tax credits to U.S. companies that choose to invest in Puerto Rico rather than in foreign jurisdictions, which will help both Puerto Rico and the United States achieve their strategic national security goals. Like other bills, Laws related to pharmaceutical manufacturing, economic development and sustainability or US Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Review Actwhich would be of great benefit to the island and the mainland.
Equality in anti-poverty programs would be good policy and good politics. Including Puerto Rico in the SNAP program would facilitate work in the way it is currently being done. nap program There is no need to combat food insecurity and expand agricultural trade with the mainland. Addressing the island's Medicaid disparities would reduce the exodus of Puerto Ricans to the mainland, strengthen the local health care industry, and ultimately reduce dependence on federal aid. And with Puerto Ricans wielding decisive political influence in key battleground states like Pennsylvania and Georgia, bipartisan support for such efforts makes political sense.
Rebuilding our energy grid also offers bipartisan opportunities. I support the transition to renewable energy. But if we have to accept less desirable alternatives in order to stabilize the grid and bring costs down more quickly, so be it, especially given Republican control of the White House and Congress. .
Once you're back on track, let's talk about status. And in doing so, we must be inclusive and democratic, respecting the people's right to vote to preserve and improve their national status, independence, free association, or current federal status. yeah.
Pablo Hernández Rivera is a member of the People's Democratic Party and the next resident commissioner of Puerto Rico.
