Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Full Committee Insular Affairs
Natural Resources Committee Approves 16 Bills, Including Key Legislation to Protect Wildlife, Improve Ocean Mapping, Better Manage Fisheries
Washington, D.C. - The House Natural Resources Committee approved 16 bills at a two-hour markup yesterday. Among other measures, the Committee advanced Chair Raúl M. Grijalva's (D-Ariz.) CECIL Act, which would strengthen the standards under which sport hunted trophies of endangered and threatened species could be imported, and Rep. Gregorio Sablan's (D-CNMI) bill to prohibit the sale of shark fins. Bill texts and amendments in the nature of a substitute can also be found by visiting the … Continue Reading
08.07.19
Chair Grijalva Statement on Report of Puerto Rican Accounting Firm’s Potential Document Destruction Amidst Calls for Investigation
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement on a recent report that BDO Puerto Rico, a financial services and accounting firm with multiple Puerto Rican government contracts, may be shredding documents following his and Rep. Nydia Velázquez's request for a formal investigation of the firm's audits and work products. "The Puerto Rican people are tired of corruption, tired of being taken advantage of, and tired of wrongdoing going unpunished.… Continue Reading
08.06.19
Chair Grijalva, Rep. Velázquez Call on Puerto Rico Oversight Board to Investigate Accounting Firm’s Contracting Work Following Recent Indictment
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) sent a previously unreported letter to Natalie Jaresko, executive director of the Puerto Rico Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB), on Aug. 2 urging the Board to investigate BDO Puerto Rico, the firm contracted to prepare audits or accounting services for many Puerto Rican government agencies. The letter, available at http://bit.ly/2OIEHpd, comes shortly after BDO Puerto Rico managing p… Continue Reading
07.25.19
Chair Grijalva Releases Video Statement on Puerto Rico’s Future – “We’re Going to Move Forward on PROMESA”
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released an online video statement after Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló announced he would resign on Aug. 2. Facebook: http://bit.ly/2JUbcg1 Twitter: http://bit.ly/2LHgT2G Key excerpt: I don't want the governance crisis that's going on in Puerto Rico with the governor to be a reason that Congress, in particular Republicans, and the Trump administration use as an excuse to limit, restrict, and otherwise affect the aid and s… Continue Reading
07.24.19
Chair Grijalva: “Gov. Rosselló Resignation is the Beginning of the Rebuilding Process – Now the Trump Humanitarian Blockade Needs to End”
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz) released the following statement on multiple reports this morning that Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló will resign. "Gov. Rosselló's overdue resignation is a significant step in the recovery process, not the end. The people of Puerto Rico have shown the world what can happen when a united public demands justice and accountability with a clear voice. Now they must choose what comes next, and Congress must listen. Reformi… Continue Reading
07.22.19
Chair Grijalva: “Gov. Rosselló Needs to Resign Immediately to Allow Puerto Rico to Move Forward – Important Discussions Can’t Happen in a Crisis”
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz) this morning reiterated that, given the massive protests happening today led by Puerto Rican people around the world, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló needs to resign immediately to restore stability on the island and credibility for the local government. Grijalva was the first member of Congress to call for his resignation. Last night, Gov. Rosselló announced his intention not to seek re-election in 2020 and to resign fro… Continue Reading
07.10.19
Chair Grijalva: Arrest of Several Leading Puerto Rican Officials is Troubling: “Gov. Rosselló Needs to Take Steps to Restore His Government’s Credibility”
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today said that, given this morning's FBI arrests of high-ranking former Puerto Rican government officials and a key private-sector accounting executive, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló needs to take immediate steps to restore his administration's credibility and protect the interests of the Puerto Rican people. Federal law enforcement officials held a press conference at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time today to discuss the arrests and … Continue Reading
05.22.19
Chair Grijalva Cheers Environmental Funding Bills as House Appropriators Provide Strong Conservation Support, Oversight of Trump Admin Efforts
Washington D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today thanked the House Appropriations Committee for increasing environmental funding in a pair of fiscal year 2020 appropriations bills, which now head to the House floor. The Committee's just-approved bills - one for Interior, Environment and Related Agencies and the other for Commerce, Justice and Science - provide crucial funding support for Department of the Interior and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conservation an… Continue Reading
05.09.19
Chair Grijalva: Judge Should Reject New Puerto Rico Debt Deal – Ratepayers Shouldn’t Be Locked Into Years of Increases for Hedge Funds’ Benefit
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz) released the following statement on the recently announced deal to restructure more than $8 billion in legacy debt of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). "This deal will sentence ratepayers to decades of unsustainable debt payments and prevent them reaching their goals of more renewable and affordable energy. It's a win for hedge funds and another loss for the people of Puerto Rico. Judge Swain should reject it." The Inst… Continue Reading
05.03.19
Chair Grijalva: Hearing Demonstrates That Austerity Is Destroying Puerto Rico, Fiscal Board Doesn’t Respect Needs of Puerto Rican People
Washington, D.C. - In the wake of yesterday's hearing on the economic future of Puerto Rico, Chair Raúl M. Grijalva today questioned the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico's one-sided focus on punishing austerity measures and service cuts to the island's already shattered economy and questioned Executive Director Natalie Jaresko's assertion that Puerto Ricans are unwilling to work if they receive government financial assistance. If the Board intends to maintain its c… Continue Reading
04.30.19
Chair Grijalva Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Submit Members of Puerto Rico Financial Oversight Board for Senate Consideration
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement on President Trump's recently announced decision to nominate the seven members of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico for Senate approval. The decision comes in the wake of a First Circuit Court of Appeals ruling invalidating the direct appointment of the Board's membership. The Board was created by thePuerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) of 2016… Continue Reading
03.27.19
Chair Grijalva Announces Puerto Rico Hearings, Slams “Embarrassing” Trump Remark That Puerto Rico Has Already Received Too Much Federal Help
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who led a congressional delegation to Puerto Rico on March 15-18 that featured a public listening session in San Juan and meetings with local and elected officials, released the following statement on President Trump's comments today suggesting that Puerto Rico has received too much federal assistance. "Puerto Rico is suffering from some of the worst federal neglect any American community has faced in the modern era. After a hurricane … Continue Reading
03.08.19
Chair Grijalva Invites Island Residents to Register for March 15 Public Listening Session With Members of Congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Washington, D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) is inviting island residents to participate in a March 15 public listening session in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Doors open at 4:45 p.m. local time. The session is being held at Roberto Clemente Coliseum on Av. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The event is part of the Committee's delegation visit to Puerto Rico - first announced yesterday - to learn more about the impacts of austerity and failed hurricane recovery. As Chair Grijalva says in a vid… Continue Reading
01.29.19
Chair Raúl M. Grijalva Announces Natural Resources Committee Democratic Leadership Team
Washington D.C. - Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today announced the Democratic leadership team and subcommittee memberships of the Natural Resources Committee for the 116th Congress. Photo highlights of the recently concluded Democratic organizing meeting are available at http://bit.ly/2HLIPBE. "Protecting our environment, taking climate change seriously, and putting the public interest first are not optional on this Committee, and that's what Democrats are going to do every day for t… Continue Reading