Resident commissioner presents 5 priority points in Washington upon return to Congress

By THE STAR STAFF

Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera presented a five-point agenda on Sunday to address Puerto Rico’s water and energy crises, upon his return to the U.S. capital following a month of work on the island and the House of Representatives’ August recess.

“I am returning to Washington with a clear agenda: I am going to prioritize the basics -- water and energy,” Hernández Rivera said at a press conference. “Before talking about economic development, attracting investment, or saying that Puerto Rico is open for business, we have to prioritize the basics.”

Hernández Rivera said he will request a formal congressional investigation into the controversy surrounding the Power Expectations contract and will demand direct answers regarding the contract’s details from Energy Czar Josué Colón Ortiz and Independent Third-Party Procurement Office President Osvaldo Carlo Linares. In addition, he will follow up on the inclusion of Puerto Rico’s priorities in the Senate version of the Water Resources Development Act -- which includes up to $75 million for water projects on the island and has already passed the House of Representatives.

He will also monitor the Government Accountability Office investigation into the use of billions of dollars in federal funds allocated to Puerto Rico’s water systems.

The resident commissioner said he also will continue to press for a major disaster declaration and for the expansion of the U.S. Department of Agriculture drought emergency declaration to include additional municipalities.