Speeches and Statements

Thank you very much for inviting me to speak at CASA’s event to demonstrate the solidarity that
Orlando, particularly our city’s large and vibrant Latino community, feels toward the suffering but
always-resilient U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico, as well as toward our brothers and sisters in South
America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Many of the citizens of these countries are also
experiencing very difficult challenges right now.

I want to begin by expressing my personal gratitude to Jimmy Torres and his colleagues at CASA
for all they have done to support Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria. This past weekend,
I had the opportunity to visit CASA’s warehouse in Orlando, where generous and hard-working
volunteers are collecting food, water, and other critical supplies and packaging them to be shipped
to la isla del encanto.

Along with other Members of Congress, I traveled to Puerto Rico 17 days after Hurricane Maria
made landfall, and I witnessed the devastation firsthand. I know the 3.4 million American citizens
of Puerto Rico are grateful for the incredible support they are receiving from their friends in
Orlando. And I know that CASA will continue to pour its blood, sweat and tears into this
humanitarian assistance effort.

As I hope you have noticed, I am doing absolutely everything I can in Congress to help Puerto
Rico and Puerto Ricans, whether they live on the island, in Florida, or in another state. This means
working to ensure that we provide enough federal assistance to enable Puerto Rico to recover,
rebuild, and emerge even stronger than before. It also means fighting to help Puerto Rican families
that make the difficult decision to relocate to Florida. They need affordable housing, and quality
health care, and good schools for their children—just like everyone else in this community. And
we will not rest until they get it.

When it comes to the United States and Puerto Rico, my view is simple. We are part of the same
family. Nosotros somos parte de la misma familia. And family members always have each other’s
back, especially when times are tough.

Just as we feel solidarity with Puerto Rico, we also care deeply about our neighbors in Latin
America and the Caribbean. For example, we mourned with Mexico when earthquakes claimed
the life of hundreds of Mexicans, including many schoolchildren, back in September. And I know
we are all watching the heartbreaking news from Venezuela. The proud Venezuelan people have
endured so much pain and hardship, and they deserve a brighter future. I pray this future arrives
as soon as possible.

In Congress, I am working on issues important to the Latino community in the United States—a
community that has done so much to enrich this country’s culture, communities, and economy. I
support comprehensive immigration reform; Temporary Protected Status for Haiti, El Salvador,
and Honduras; and an enduring solution for Dreamers.

Let me close with this thought. It may surprise you to know that I love Latin music. Well, Gente
de Zona and Marc Anthony have a song called “Gozadera,” which is a tribute—really a love
song—to Latin America and Latinos.

There is a lyric in the song that says: “Si tú eres Latino, saca tu bandera.”

I know all of you are proud Americans, but that you are also proud of your Hispanic heritage. I
hope you will continue waving your flags with pride and fighting for the issues you care about.

You can count on my support.

Thank you.

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