New Congressional Hearing on Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has just one non-voting representative in the House of Representatives, but there is a subcommittee that is responsible for Puerto Rico. The subcommittee is called “the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.” “Insular” literally means “having to do with islands,” and in government it refers to to island territories, including Puerto Rico.

The Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs has a hearing coming up on “Examining procedures regarding Puerto Rico’s political status and economic outlook.”

Here are the members of the subcommittee, with their Twitter handles:

• Donald Young of Alaska @RepDonYoung
• Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen of American Samoa @RepAmata
• Paul Gosar of Arizona @RepGosar
• Raul Grijalva of Arizona @RepRaulGrijalva
• Norma Torres of California @NormaJTorres
• Doug LaMalfa of California @RepLaMalfa
• Jeff Denham of California @RepJeffDenham
• Paul Cook of California @RepPaulCook
• Raul Ruiz of California @CongressmanRuiz
• Madeleine Bordallo of Guam
• Daniel Benishek of Michigan @CongressmanDan
• Gregorio Sablan of the Northern Mariana Islands
• Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico @PedroPierluisi
• Rob Bishop of Utah @RepRobBishop

Do you see your representative on the list? If so, here’s a message you need to send:

Add “@” and your rep’s Twitter handle at the beginning of the tweet so he or she will see it.

If you have more to say, click the name of your rep above and you’ll find an email form to contact him or her.

You might think that all these members would go to the meeting without your urging, but these are busy people. If they don’t think their constituents care, they might choose not to go. Make sure they attend the meeting by making sure that they know that you care.

Not sure who your congressperson is? Find your congressperson!

Not seeing your rep on the list? You can still let the committee members know you care. Puerto Rico’s political and economic status should matter to all of us!