Two months before leaving her final term, Puerto Rico-born U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez said she is hopeful that Democrats’ midterm election wins will mean the issues affecting Puerto Ricans are addressed, including the Medicaid cliff Puerto Rico faces in 2027. "Qué satisfacción y paz mental" (what satisfaction and peace of mind), she said, to leave Congress knowing it will be represented by a large majority of members who respect the law, social justice, civil rights and human rights, the first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress said after a conference at Casa Dominicana in San Juan.
A year ago, the Democratic leader announced she would not seek reelection in November and would retire from electoral politics. She said that before leaving Congress she will soon meet with Hakeem Jeffries, the current House Minority leader, who will be elected speaker after the Democratic victory. Velázquez, a native of Yabucoa first elected in November 1992, has represented the 7th District, based in an area of Brooklyn and part of Queens.
She said her party won control of the House and Senate on Tuesday. She said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be removed from Homeland Security’s jurisdiction and eliminated. Asked about alleged government corruption, she said it is a problem neither she nor Congress can solve, but the people of Puerto Rico, because it weakens any member’s argument for requesting funds for the island.
She also cited poor public administration, saying funds have gone untouched to revitalize Puerto Rico’s power grid. Puerto Rico’s government could face a $3.7 billion fiscal cliff starting October 1, 2027, a problem Governor Jenniffer González and Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández have joined efforts to address by pressing lawmakers to match the island’s funds with those of other jurisdictions.