Rep. Gutierrez on Puerto Rico: “Life Goes On, Even When the Government Has Turned Its Back On You”
This morning on the floor of the
During his trip (Friday 11/3 - Monday 11/6), the Congressman visited several towns, including Jayuya and Loiza where he met with local mayors and community leaders. He brought photographs from his most recent trip to illustrate his floor speech this morning. The Congressman began his remarks by saying "I wish I could report that a lot of progress is being made, but I can't. It is still a disaster that is a stain on the reputation of
The first picture was of a group of people by the side of a road near Jayuya washing clothes with spring water in a bucket using a toilet plunger. The Congressman said, "This man is a police officer, but he is learning to make do, just like every other Puerto Rican. Everywhere you go, you see Puerto Ricans making do."
He continued:
On the one hand, when I am in
His final photograph was from the wedding of two women on a beach, about which
Puerto Ricans are learning to make do, just like these two young women who got married on the beach in
Rep.
A video of the Congressman's speech today is here: https://youtu.be/uOwEHWd-JdU
The text as prepared for delivery is here:
Floor Speech
Monday, I returned from my third trip to
I wish I could report that a lot of progress is being made, but I can't. It is still a disaster that is a stain on the reputation of
Most places do not have power.
Generators - the sound you hear humming in every corner of the island like metallic coquis - are running ragged from overuse.
In many places, the water is not on because the power is not on to pump it. And drinkable water mixes with sewer water in many places.
As you can see from this picture taken near Jayuya, people are tapping mountain springs and in this case, are using it mostly for laundry, thank goodness, because the mountain water in many places is contaminated from humans and animals.
This man is a police officer, but he is learning to make do, just like every other Puerto Rican.
Everywhere you go, you see Puerto Ricans making do.
So, think about your life without power, cell services, water, lights, fans, or in some cases food.
Imagine the dialysis patient or the elderly man in an electric wheelchair who uses oxygen tanks to breathe. I met those people in
How do you get to physical therapy or regular pre-natal visits when there are still roads and bridges down?
On the one hand, when I am in
On the other hand, when I am in
Yes, the damage is massive, but there is no task Americans cannot accomplish if we put our minds and our backs into it.
[Switching Photographs]
The people in Loiza are forming a brigade to rebuild the structure so that they can open up the
Individuals in
They are not waiting for
Nope. The people of
It boggles the mind that it has come to this.
Here is another more difficult case, a bridge and a road were washed out by the storm. This is near Jayuya, but it could be almost anywhere on the island.
More than 6 weeks after the storm and...nothing. Not even orange cones or a guard rail to keep people from driving into danger.
If you live up on the side of this hill, you are not going anywhere until something changes because that is the only way in or out. The people of
The people of
And that the passports and documents they have that say "citizen of
And
It should not have to come to that, but it has.
[Switching Photographs]
Puerto Ricans are learning to make do, just like these two young women who got married on the beach in
Life goes on, even when the government has turned its back on you.
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