Senator Bill Nelson Agrees to PRFAA Director Request

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) Executive Director Juan E. Hernández today announced that Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), agreed to his request made during a meeting they held on May 8, for Puerto Rico to be included within the increased border security measures, proposed in the comprehensive immigration reform bill that started to be debated this week in the U.S. Senate. Read the rest of this entry »

Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) Executive Director Juan E. Hernández, announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor awarded a $2.9 million grant for agricultural labor in Puerto Rico as part of the National Farmworkers Jobs Program (NFJP). Seven nonprofit organizations in the United States have been selected under this program in order to provide employment, training and services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The Pathstone Corporation was the organization selected to provide these services in Puerto Rico.

Read the rest of this entry »

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Puerto Rico Federal Affairs (PRFAA) Executive Director Juan E. Hernández today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives is set to approve a bill later this week that includes $5.6 million for construction and remodeling at the National Guard training facilities at Camp Santiago. Located in the municipality of Salinas, Camp Santiago is the principal training facility of the Puerto Rico National Guard. Read the rest of this entry »

Last November my administration was tasked with tackling the many challenges facing Puerto Rico, including, rampant crime, high unemployment and an economy in deep recession. Sadly, ever since losing the election, instead of joining me in addressing these challenges, the previous administration has chosen to focus on misrepresenting the outcome of the 2012 Puerto Rico plebiscite on self-determination. Falsely claiming that a majority of Puerto Ricans voted in support of statehood, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi and his allies from the prior administration continue to spread in Washington the politics of division. Read the rest of this entry »

Press Release 

San Juan – Governor Alejandro García Padilla said today that the public policy of his administration, in terms of political status, is to support the position of U.S. President Barack Obama to ensure that all alternatives are treated fairly. 

This policy was set out yesterday in a Concurring Resolution passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives in which they informed the President and the Congress of the United States the results of the plebiscite held on November 6, 2012 and supported the presidential request to allocate $2.5 million to address this issue.

“Contrary to the position taken by the Resident Commissioner, this administration supports the position of the White House to provide fair treatment to all status options in an upcoming referendum endorsed by Congress,” expressed the Governor. Read the rest of this entry »

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) Executive Director Juan E. Hernández released today the text of Concurrent Resolution Number 24 of the Legislative Assembly of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which was approved last night, on the results of the plebiscite held on November 6, 2012 in Puerto Rico. The text of the resolution was sent to Members of Congress, their staff and other federal officials, as well as civic organizations and the general public in the United States. Read the rest of this entry »

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) Executive Director Juan E. Hernández announced today that the U.S. Department of Commerce has appointed Ingrid Rivera Rocafort, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, as member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Members of this board aid the Secretary of Commerce and are represent several sectors of the economy, including transportation, financial services, hotels, restaurants, among other industries, as well as small and large-scale enterprises. Read the rest of this entry »

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) Executive Director Juan E. Hernández announced today that this weekend the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will start a pilot program that has the potential to attract additional flights to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport through the “International to International (ITI) baggage pilot program.” This program will, for the first time since the post-9/11 security reforms, allow passengers from international flights with layovers in Puerto Rico, and that have international final destinations, to board their connecting flights without having to re-check their luggage. Read the rest of this entry »

Press Release

NEW YORK, NY – Puerto Rico Federal Affairs (PRFAA) Executive Director Juan E. Hernández hosted a forum today on Vieques titled “Environmental and Economic Revitalization of an Island.” On May 1st the People of Puerto Rico celebrate the 10th anniversary of the closing of the U.S. Navy bombing range in Vieques, Puerto Rico.

Speakers at the event included Congressman José Serrano (D-NY); Carmen Guerrero, Secretary of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico; Eduardo Bhatia, President of the Senate of Puerto Rico; Judith Enck, EPA Region II Administrator; Claudia Gutiérrez, Senior Advisor to Administrator Enck; and Brenda Torres, PRFAA Northeast Regional Director. Read the rest of this entry »

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) Executive Director Juan E. Hernández stated today that PRFAA has identified specific opportunities where federal funds could help promote investment on several initiatives mentioned by Governor Alejandro García Padilla yesterday in his State of the Commonwealth Address. These opportunities could be helpful in the following areas: Read the rest of this entry »