Post by bot on Mar 15, 2016 16:41:17 GMT -5
Hoyer Remarks on the Need to Address the Debt Crisis in Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) attended a press conference today with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Democratic Members of Congress, Grammy award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Puerto Rican advocates to discuss the need to take immediate action to address Puerto Rico’s debt crisis. Below is a transcript of his remarks:
“Thank you very much Senator Gillibrand, other Senators who are here. My classmate [Senator] Chuck Schumer—he came to Congress with me or I came with him, probably the better way he’d want me to say it. Congresswoman [Nydia] Velazquez, Congressman [Jose] Serrano, so pleased to be with you. And Madam Speaker [New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito], it is so good for those of us in the House to call a good Democratic woman ‘Madam Speaker.’
“Lin-Manuel [Miranda], I agree with 99 percent of what you said. But you said ‘by the way, they’re Americans’. It’s not ‘by the way.’ It is: ‘the citizens we are talking about are Americans.’
“And they’re in crisis, and they need help. And they are looking to their Congress for help, because they are out on their own and cannot declare bankruptcy as they ought to be able to do – not to undermine creditors, but to not undermine the people of Puerto Rico.
“And time is of the essence, that is why I’m here. That’s why the House Members are here. Our Speaker, Paul Ryan… said that we would act by March 31. Not counting today we have five days left to do it in session before March 31.
“You’ve heard the facts [about the impact of the crisis] from Senator Gillibrand, you’ve heard the facts from Senator [Elizabeth] Warren, you’ve heard some of the facts from [Senator] Chuck Schumer. The facts are clear. The need for action is clear. The need for action is now. Thank you for lending your voice. We have at least three crises confronting us: Puerto Rico, Zika, and Flint. Let us act and let us act now. Thank you very much Senator Gillibrand.”