For the second time in 10 months, Congressman Michael San Nicolas has secured Puerto Rico’s official support for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Guam from a second Puerto Rico governor.
Governer Wanda Vázquez-Garced took office on August 7, 2019 as the governor of Puerto Rico with the resignation of former Governor Rosselló.
“It is an incredible honor for the new Governor of Puerto Rico to make our mutual support a priority of hers at the onset of her tenure as Governor,” San Nicolas. said in a news release. “With so many pressing priorities, it takes exceptional grace for her to dedicate the time and effort in this diplomacy.”
In a Sept. 12 meeting in his Washington D.C. office, San Nicolas said he and Governor Vàzquez-Garced affirmed their mutual support for resolving Medicaid funding issues, the impending cockfighting ban, and the need for assistance in getting certain programmed funds due to Puerto Rico.
San Nicolas, in turn, further sought the governor’s endorsement of and official Puerto Rico support for H.R. 208 to authorize SSI for Guam.
“The official support from Puerto Rico is critical for us to move H.R. 208 forward, as the Puerto Rican constituency is quite large in multiple congressional districts in various states. With this official endorsement of support, we can continue making the case to members of Congress that we have the green light from Puerto Rico to move Guam SSI forward even though it does not include Puerto Rico at this time. The work continues to secure additional necessary endorsements to put weight and traction on H.R. 208,” San Nicolas said.
The official endorsement was presented in a formal meeting at the Puerto Rico Capitol La Fortaleza in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“The Governor also graciously surprised us with a shadowbox portrait of La Fortaleza as a gift for the people of Guam, symbolizing the strength and commitment of our relationship. It was heartwarming and refreshing,” San Nicolas said.
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