Resident Commissioner to Laid Off Federal Employees: You Are Not the Problem, Your Government Is the Problem
Pablo José Hernández Rivera Delivers Speech in the Chamber Defending Laid Off Federal Employees in Puerto Rico
Click HERE to watch and download a video clip of the Resident Commissioner’s speech.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera delivered a speech on the floor of the federal chamber defending federal employees in Puerto Rico who have been laid off. He outlined the measures his office will take to inform them of their rights and urged the Puerto Rican government to provide them with assistance.
In his speech, Hernández Rivera expressed concerns about how Puerto Rican federal employees have been impacted, stating that "the federal government has been cruel to its workforce.” He emphasized the consequences these layoffs could have on vulnerable populations, such as veterans. “But I am also concerned about the thousands of veterans who rely on the VA for their healthcare needs in Puerto Rico. Why? Because the lack of structure and logic behind these cuts directly affects them.” As Mr. Santiago asks: ‘If 10 workers are lost in the emergency room, who will care for the patients?’”
Hernández Rivera announced that his office will launch a resource page on his website, www.hernandez.house.gov, for laid-off federal employees.
Additionally, he urged the Puerto Rican government to support these laid-off employees in the same way it assists those in the private sector: “I also call on the government of Puerto Rico to take action, to provide these workers with the same assistance that the government of Puerto Rico typically offers to workers who are laid off in the tourism or manufacturing sectors.”
The Resident Commissioner concluded his speech by saying: “To the workers affected, I want to send a clear message: I know that being laid off is painful. It hurts your finances, it hurts your stability, and it can even hurt your sense of self-worth. But let me be clear: you are not the problem; your government is the problem. We see you. We hear you. And we will fight for you.”
Click HERE to read the Resident Commissioner's full speech in the chamber, as delivered in English.
###