Puerto Rico
I was born in Chicago to parents who migrated from Puerto Rico in the 1950’s and I later returned with them to live on the Island in the 1960’s. As a Puerto Rican member of Congress and someone who represents Puerto Ricans in Illinois' 4th Congressional District, I closely follow issues affecting the Island and my constituents with strong ties there.
More on Puerto Rico
Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) spoke on the House floor about the new Financial Control Board – or Junta de Control – that will oversee all aspects of Puerto Rico’s government and which meets on Friday for its first official meeting. The meeting is not in Puerto Rico, but in lower Manhattan close to Wall Street, which Rep. Gutiérrez said “is symbolic of the way la Junta de Control over Puerto Rico came about – and is a very bad omen for the future.”
He said:
On the Floor of the House today, Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) spoke about the case for the release of Oscar Lopez Rivera, the last Puerto Rican political prisoner held in a U.S. prison. A veteran in his seventies, Lopez Rivera has served more than 35 years in prison having not been convicted of a crime of violence.
Washington, DC – Today on the floor of the House during Morning Business, Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) spoke about the last Puerto Rican political prisoner held in a federal prison, Oscar Lopez Rivera. Rep.
“Especially in this time of economic crisis in Puerto Rico, Republican leaders need to be reminded that during their long summer vacation, a lot of people will get sick.”