Washington dc– The Puerto Rican authorities today see with renewed optimism the change of government in the United States.
In a statement, Governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia – who attended the ceremony – indicated that the swearing-in of Joe Biden as president and Kamala Harris as vice president “Represents the end of polarization times”. “My presence must remind the entire leadership of the U.S. government that we deserve dignified treatment as American citizens,” he indicated.
Washington-based commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez, meanwhile, argued that in the midst of the pandemic and after the act of insurgency against Congress, a message of unity like that of President Biden was important.
“I saw a message of unity, of a vision of respect, but with a desire to work in harmony. A message of healing and seeking consensus, very appropriate to stop the moment we are living“He also noted the presence of Republicans such as former President George W. Bush, the leaders of this party in the Senate, Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), and the lower house, Kevin McCarthy (California) and former speaker Paul Ryan.
It seemed more extraordinary to Gonzalez that there was a woman vice president, with the assumption of Kamala Harris in the number two position of the United States government, and that two boricuas, the associate judge of the United States Supreme Court , Sonia Sotomayor, and the artist Jennifer López have been the protagonists of the investiture. Sotomayor took the oath of Harris.
Meanwhile, the president of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, Rafael “Tatito” Hernández Montañez, foresees a syntony between the legislative leadership of the island and the governor Pierluisi, to be democrats, with the White House. Hernández Montañez was co-chair of the Biden Electoral Committee on the Island.
“If 50% of Joe Biden’s promises are fulfilled we are talking about radical changes,” the chamberlain president said, referring to issues such as smoothing the operation of the Promise Act, access to the island’s Security Program. ‘Supplemental Income (SSI) and a binding state process with representation from all parties.
Gov. Pierluisi, Hernandez Montañez, and Commissioner Gonzalez have called for Biden to begin his term by withdrawing the Donald Trump administration’s challenge to the First Circuit of Federal Appeals decision that opens the door to Puerto Rican residents have access to the SSI. Gonzalez said he will send a letter to Biden today to make that claim.
Letter to the Biden
Commissioner Gonzalez today sent a letter to President Biden requesting the immediate withdrawal of the Trump administration’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in the Vaello Madero case to prevent Puerto Rican residents from accessing the state. ‘SSI. “Of all the disparities faced by‘ Americans ’living in the territories, none is more frightening than the assistance available to the most vulnerable citizens,” Gónzález said.
The SSI can have an impact of about $ 1.8 billion in helping low-income seniors, and adults and minors with disabilities.
Hernandez Montañez – who traveled to Washington DC for the occasion -, in turn, spoke in favor of Biden’s promise to promote raising the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour, although he urged the island’s leadership in helping traders through funding and reforms in the area of permits.
Puerto Rican Democratic congressmen also expressed satisfaction with the new government and the end of Donald Trump’s four-year term.
“There’s a lot to do. Let’s celebrate today and get to work”, Pointed out Nydia Velázquez (New York), in tweeting a summary of President Biden’s immediate agenda, such as the reform of immigration laws, extend the moratorium on housing evictions, in payment of student loans, require the use of federally owned masks and return to the United States to the World Health Organization.
Velázquez was on the main balcony near Associate Judge Sotomayor.
Congressman Ritchie Torres (New York) – in the face of the rise of white supremacist groups, as President Biden acknowledged – also stressed the importance of the change of government, but told NY1 that “I’m concerned that we are going to have to live with violent extremism as a reality in American politics. “
“We have begun a new era in our nation’s history. Seeing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris take the oath of office is a key reminder that hope is on its way to the White House,” he said. , for his part, Darren Soto (Florida).
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez also called for “creating justice, healing our planet and improving the conditions of all people.”