Letters to the Editor | Sept. 18, 2024 – Support Puerto Rico

As the United States stands on the threshold of a pivotal decision regarding its future, Puerto Rico’s future also hangs in the balance — an issue of great concern for the estimated 350,000 eligible Puerto Rican voters across Pennsylvania. Puerto Ricans are watching to see how candidates show their love, or lack thereof, for la Isla del Encanto.

When Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico in 2017, the island found itself in dire need of assistance, but calls for aid faced unjust hostility and delays in Washington. President Joe Biden changed the federal government’s response to Puerto Rico upon assuming office, swiftly dismantling harmful restrictions placed by his predecessor, and enabling a more seamless flow of recovery funds. This marked a hopeful shift away from more than a century of neglect of Puerto Rico toward one where federal agencies worked to address the needs of Puerto Ricans.

Through the American Rescue Plan, legislation that allocated nearly $4 billion in relief, Puerto Ricans saw financial aid for families for the first time because of the enhanced child tax credit and increased nutrition assistance for vulnerable populations, among other policy measures. These provisions, along with historic investments in renewable energy, not only provided relief for Puerto Rico but also laid the foundation for long-term economic stability on the island.

As we approach the next presidential election, Puerto Rican voters across 50 states are in a position of significant influence. Puerto Ricans in Pennsylvania — given their voting potential in a must-win swing state — particularly can shape the trajectory of Puerto Rico’s relationship with the U.S. To my fellow Puerto Ricans, as we get set to vote in November, let’s safeguard the advancements made by the Biden administration on the island and choose a path that perpetuates this legacy of support for Puerto Rico and our people.