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Puerto Rican Leaders Call for Funds and Increased Services as Devastation from Hurricane Maria Endures

Oldest and largest U.S. Hispanic advocacy organization seeks to elevate the impact of hurricane on the Island during its 90th Annual Convention

MILWAUKEE (July 11, 2019) – Today, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was joined by Puerto Rican leaders who shared the harsh reality still facing the Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. As a powerful voice in the space, LULAC is proud to stand together as a community in support of recovery efforts that will improve the situation.

“Even though almost two years have passed, the people of Puerto Rico are struggling to recover from a natural disaster that no other generation on the Island has ever seen before,” said Carmelo Rios, Puerto Rico Senate Majority Leader & NHCSL President. “The recovery process from the U.S. government has not been sufficient, but as part of our efforts, we are promoting Puerto Rico as a tourist destination that will help revamp our economy. We look forward to showing the world everything that Puerto Rico has to offer.”

LULAC reaffirms its strong support to fellow U.S. citizens who reside in Puerto Rico regarding their legitimate right as U.S. citizens to be able to vote in Presidential elections, as well as for their corresponding voting members of Congress. The organization is also committed to continuing to push government officials to provide equal opportunities and treatment to the three million U.S. citizens residing in the Island.

Today’s conversation on “The Untold Story of Puerto Rico Continues” was joined by Regla Gonzalez, Special Assistant to the LULAC National President; Wilson Roman, Representative (District 17); Jose Enrique Melendez, Representative at Large, PR House of Representatives; Carmelo Rios, Puerto Rico Senate Majority Leader & NHCSL President; and Annabel Guillen, President of Igualdad, Federal Affairs Advisor, Puerto Rico Senate.

More about the LULAC’s 90th Annual Convention

Led by LULAC President Domingo Garcia and CEO Sindy Benavides, LULAC’s four-day convention will bring together over 20,000 Latino leaders from across the country for seminars and notable events, including a Presidential Town Hall with 2020 candidates: Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT); Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA); former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro; and former Representative Beto O’Rourke (D-TX). LULAC will host events on its National Stage featuring Second Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden (2009 – 2017); Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO); U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI). An agenda and list of speakers is available here. Select events, including the Presidential Town Hall, will be live streamed at www.lulac.org/live.

For more information on interview opportunities, please contact Cristina Rue at crue@skdknick.com or (937) 479-9330 or Mary Ellen Garrett at mgarrett@skdknick.com or (202) 510-2760. For your broadcast A/V needs, please reach out to Marcela Salazar at msalazar@skdknick.com or (202) 567-1163.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org