|
Washington D.C.- U.S. Representative Luis Fortuño announced today that the U.S. Senate unanimously approved, late last night, the first bill he introduced in Congress. The bill (HR 539), introduced by Fortuño last February and approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in September, designates 10,000 acres of the Caribbean National Forest as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, thus protecting them from any future development.
Fortuño, who has had unprecedented accomplishments in Congress this week, said: "I’m proud that this effort, started during the tenure of Carlos Romero Barceló as Resident Commissioner, has culminated successfully so early in the session.” Fortuño has been one of the main advocates for the conservation of El Yunque and the environment, in general. In just 11 months in Congress, he has introduced bills protecting the Karst region (HR 1644) and protecting the buffer zone around El Yunque (HR 3365). In addition, he has been recognized by important environmental groups for having attained widespread bipartisan support for the bill the Senate approved yesterday.
“I thank Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist, for his support and for understanding the vital importance of this bill, not only for Puerto Rico, but for the whole nation," added Fortuño. The bill will now be sent to the White House for the President’s signature.
### |
