url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://gonzalez-colon.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-responds-jennifer-gonzalez-and-approves-35-billion-disaster-relief-funds,House responds to Jennifer Gonzalez and approves $35 Billion for disaster relief funds that will benefit Puerto Rico,2017-10-12,2017,2017-10,Republican,House,PR,Jenniffer González-Colón,G000582,gonzalez-colon.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington DC - The House of Representatives approved today by a vote of 353-69 the Supplemental Appropriation for Disaster Relief Bill, HR 2266, which allocates over $35 billion for emergency response and would benefit Puerto Rico in the recovery phase after the devastation from two hurricanes in less than two weeks. This was reported by the Resident Commissioner, Jennifer González Colón, who earlier today addressed the House chamber calling on fellow congressmen to vote in favor of the measure.
“The Supplemental Appropriation for Disaster Relief Bill that we have in front of us is a big one, however, it is the first step of our goal. The funds included this bill are urgently necessary to provide resources for American families and communities that are suffering. It will help to continue current efforts, provide immediate relief and helping to start the reconstruction process. 
Yesterday in a press conference, PR’s Resident Commissioner announced the filing of the legislative piece that appropriates $35 billion in emergency funding and includes PR and the U.S. Virgin Islands. GOP House Leadership members who hosted and endorsed that press conference included Speaker Paul Ryan, Conference Chair Cathy McMorris, Majority Whip Steve Scalise and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. 
“I want to thank [Puerto Rico Congresswoman] Jenniffer [González-Colón] for the work she has been performing I want to echo what [Majority Leader] Kevin [McCarthy] has said. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people in Puerto Rico. We’re going to show it with action and expressing our concern directly to them on Friday”, said Speaker Paul Ryan, who arrives tomorrow with González Colón to Puerto Rico, along with other congress members.
“Puerto Ricans are American, and as Americans we take care of our own. This island is totally devastated and I’m pleased that the delegate from Puerto Rico, Jennifer Gonzalez, is with us today and has been such a tireless advocate and tremendous leader, as they begin a long process of rebuilding” stated Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris. 
“Watching Jennifer with her passion, making sure that Puerto Rico is included in that discussion of my very first day back to Congress a week and a half ago, I got to sit down with her and she made that case directly to me as well. This is why we will take more steps this week to make sure help is in place and the Trump administration has the resources they need from Congress to take care of the damages from these storms” said Majority Whip Steve Scalise. 
“The passion which Jennifer shows is because she has seen things directly. When you think of what is happening in America, the hurricanes, the floods, the deaths, Las Vegas, it is a very trying time. Puerto Rico sustained two major hurricanes, and we will work this week to make sure we get the resources to them, but this will not be the end of it. This will take time to rebuild, but I know that with Jennifer’s leadership the efforts to rebuild Puerto Rico will be kept on track”, added House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. 
The supplementary measure, adds funds to the current federal budget for:
- $13.77 Billion to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund. “The White House had asked Congress to approve $12.77 billion, in the House we added a billion dollars more to that item,” said González Colon;
- $4.9 Billion for loans to governments and public dependencies of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands under the Disaster Assistance Direct Loan Program, to provide operational liquidity for both Caribbean governments until the end of this year;
- $1.2 Billion for the Emergency SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Program – normally Puerto Rico “Food Stamp” beneficiaries do not have access to this program because it operates a separate block grant program, but in face of the emergency caused by these hurricanes the administration granted this benefit. SNAP is a federally funded program to help low-income persons acquire healthy food, as the nation's first line of defense against hunger and a tool to ensure food security. Statistics show the program helps people to rise from situations such as unemployment, and also has a multiplier effect due to the funds it injects into on the economy;
- Authorization to the Department of Defense so that they can maintain their level of support as long as needed;
-  $16 billion in debt cancellation to restore the balance of the Federal Flood Insurance Program
- Nearly $ 500 million in funds to respond to the wildfires in the Western U.S. and California.
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https://gonzalez-colon.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-committee-discuss-situation-puerto-rico-and-us-virgin-islands-after,House Committee discuss the situation in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands after hurricanes Irma and Mara,2017-10-05,2017,2017-10,Republican,House,PR,Jenniffer González-Colón,G000582,gonzalez-colon.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington DC- House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) organized an informal roundtable yesterday for the members of the committee to discuss the situation in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands after hurricanes Irma and María.
Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón and USVI Delegate Stacey Plaskett each presented to the committee a report on the situation in their respective territories, describing the total physical and economic devastation caused by the storms and the stages of progress in the response and recovery effort, as well as estimates of damages.  Both spoke passionately about the experiences of their constituents and thanked the members of the committee for the commitment expressed to support the rebuilding needs.
Committee staff reviewed for the members the jurisdiction and competencies of the committee, which has oversight over the territories’ administration.  This enables the committee to act in aspects such as streamlining administrative regulations; however, for other financial, labor or health service type actions it will require working together with the other committees with primary jurisdiction.  That includes moving forth the emergency response legislation that may be pending before these committees.  One issue that is within the Natural Resources Committee jurisdiction is Title V of PROMESA, which defines critical infrastructure projects and that may be something to which to consider having the Fiscal Board change focus or even to amend.
The Chairman and members of the committee agreed with both the Caribbean Congresswomen that there must be a new vision of FEMA’s mandate, so that it should not be merely to restore what existed on the day of landfall as it was, but to cooperate with a reconstruction that is up to current standards and less vulnerable to future hazards. The delegations from the other insular territories equally expressed their interest to have that be applicable in the future to all jurisdictions
“I thank Chairman Bishop and all the Members of Congress who attended today’s member forum on recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  It is clear that Members are committed to ensuring that Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have a path to recovery that does not just restore conditions as they were before the hurricanes made landfall, but that will enable the territories to come out stronger.  I praise the Natural Resources Committee’s initiative to promptly address the devastating situations in both Puerto Rico and the USVI and I look forward to working with the Committee to improve the lives of the 3.5 million citizens residing in the affected territories.”
“I want to thank Resident Commissioner Jennifer Gonzalez and Delegate Stacey Plaskett for their leadership. Their contributions to today’s forum were extremely beneficial for our members in helping to understand the situations on the ground and the unique challenges facing both territories. I look forward to working with both of them, along with all of our members, local officials and federal partners to ensure expedient recovery and rebuilding,” Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) said.
“As we all know, a majority of the Virgin Islands remains without power. Wireless and internet service is spotty. While our local utility and telecom service providers are working swiftly to restore services, they need more resources to boost their efforts. The pace at which these services are restored is critical to our recovery time. While only some of these needs are within the jurisdiction of the Committee of Natural Resources, the Office of Insular Affairs will play a prominent role in our recovery efforts,” Delegate Plaskett (D-USVI) said. “Support from the House Committee on Natural Resources is crucial and is needed in terms of making sure the Virgin Islands has the necessary funds for Technical Assistance and Capital Improvement Project grants for the our operational and infrastructure needs which will include our hospitals, schools, roads, and wastewater treatment. I would also urge Members of the Committee on Natural Resources to support in the future broader legislation addressing our longer-term recovery efforts.”
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https://gonzalez-colon.house.gov/media/press-releases/jenniffer-gonz-lez-promueve-en-corea-del-sur-puerto-rico-como-destino-de,Jenniffer Gonzlez promueve en Corea del Sur a Puerto Rico  como destino de inversin,2017-09-01,2017,2017-09,Republican,House,PR,Jenniffer González-Colón,G000582,gonzalez-colon.house.gov,,,legacy,"Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón presented to various Korean enterprise groups the opportunities for business in Puerto Rico during her visit as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation working to create closer trade and security links between the United States and South Korea. 
 
Seúl, República de Corea del Sur-  La comisionada residente, Jenniffer González Colón, presentó las oportunidades para hacer negocios en Puerto Rico a varios conglomerados de empresas, como parte de su visita, junto a una delegación congresional bipartita, para estrechar los lazos comerciales y de seguridad entre Estados Unidos y Corea del Sur.  
 
La comisionada resaltó los incentivos económicos, la infraestructura de la isla, la mano de obra local especializada y las regulaciones federales como atractivos para hacer negocios en Puerto Rico.    
 
González Colón participó de una mesa redonda de trabajo con la Cámara de Comercio Americana en Corea, donde discutió en más detalles las ventajas de invertir en Puerto Rico. Allí conversó con el presidente y CEO de la organización, James Kin.   
 
En la noche, la congresista habló ante cientos de empresas que integran el Korea International Trade Association (KITA) sobre los incentivos que ofrece Puerto Rico en áreas especializadas como farmacéutica, tecnología, biomedicina, industrias creativas, textiles, informáticas, entre otros.  
 
Los congresistas se reunieron además con el presidente de SPC Group, Hur Young-in, gran conglomerado en Seúl que reúne productores de alimentos y confitería; y con el presidente de CJ Group, Sohn Kyung-Shik, otro conglomerado, pero en esta ocasión de compañías de inversión.  
 
La delegación congresional busca reforzar la alianza comercial entre Estados Unidos y Corea del Sur ante el Tratado de Libre Comercio entre ambas naciones o KORUS que entró en vigor el 15 de marzo del 2012.  
 
La comisionada residente visitó, además, la zona desmilitarizada (DMZ) entre Corea del Norte y Corea del Sur donde se reunió con el secretario de las Naciones Unidas para esta misión.
 
El DMZ se creó el 27 de julio de 1953 con la firma del Armisticio que dio fin a la Guerra de Corea; cubre un área de dos kilómetros donde la actividad militar está prohibida; sirve como reserva ecológica; y conserva túneles y edificios como herencia histórica de la guerra.  
 
La visita se dio el mismo día del lanzamiento de un misil balístico por cielo japonés por parte de Corea del Norte.   
 
La delegación congresional sostuvo reuniones con sus homólogos en Corea del Sur en el Parlamento coreano. Allí se reunieron con Shim Jae-Kwon, presidente del Comité de Unificación y Asuntos de Exteriores de la Asamblea Nacional Coreana y representantes de varios partidos políticos.  
 
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	Jenniffer González promotes Puerto Rico as investment destination in South Korea
	 
	 
	 
	Seoul, Republic of Korea -  Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón presented to various Korean enterprise groups the opportunities for business in Puerto Rico during her visit as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation working to create closer trade and security links between the United States and South Korea. 
	 
	The Resident Commissioner highlighted the island’s infrastructure, Enterprise incentives, specialized workforce and protection of federal regulations as factors that make Puerto Rico attractive for business.    
	 
	González-Colón joined the work of a roundtable of the Korea American Chamber of Commerce to discuss more in detail Puerto Rico’s investment advantages, and held conversations with the organization’s President and CEO James Kim.
	 
	That evening the Congresswoman addressed representatives of the hundreds of companies that form the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) about Puerto Rico’s incentives for specialized industries like pharmaceuticals, biomedical, high tech, IT, textiles and others. 
	 
	The Members of Congress had meetings with Hur Young-in, president of SPC Group, a Seoul-based conglomerate of food and Candy producers; as well as Sohn Kyung-Shik, president of investment firm conglomerate CJ Group.  
	 
	The congressional delegation seeks to reinforce the commercial partnership between South Korea and the United States under the Korea-US Free Trade Zone, established March 15, 2012.   
	 
	The Resident Commissioner visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea where she met with the UN secretary for the Mission. The DMZ, created on July 23 1953 when the armistice was signed stopping the Korean War, covers a span of two kilometers on each side of the ceasefire line where military activities are banned. It serves as a nature reserve and preserves historic buildings and tunnels as legacy of the war.   
	 
	This visit happened against the backdrop of a North Korean missile launch over Japanese airspace.   
	 
	The Members of Congress held meetings with their peers in the South Korean Parliament, where they met with Shim Jae-Kwon, chair of the Korean National Assembly’s Committee on Unification and Foreign Affairs, and representatives of various political parties
	 
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