when we come back, congressssmember nydia velazquez has just returned from puerto rico.tay with us. ♪ [music break] amy: this is democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman with nermeen shaikh. nermeen: we turn now to puerto rico in the aftermath of hurricane maria, the strongest storm to hit the island in nearly a century. more than two weeks later, more than 90% of its 3.5 million residents remain without electricity, running water, and adequate food. after r president trump visited puerto rico on tuesday, he told fox news his administration would help puerto rico wipe out it $73 billion debt dealt it recover from the extensive damage caused by hurricane maria. pres. trurump: we are going to work something out. wewe have to look at their whole dedebt structure. they owe a lot of money to her friends on wall street, and we're going to have to wipe that out. you can say goodbye to that. i don't know if it is goldman sachs, but whoevev it is, yoyou can wave goodbye to that. we have to do something because the debt was massive on the island.

. >> earl blumenauer dijo la seÑora consuelo velÁzquez-- ya lo dijo nuestra seÑora consuelo velÁzquez fueron un fenÓmeno de ventas. en la radio mexicana no pasaban 10 minutos sin que se repitiera la canciÓn. >> fue uno de los Éxitos mÁs grandes de la industria discogrÁfica. >> el disco se agotÓ y urgentemente tenÍan que hacer mÁs copias. >> se nos acabo el acetato y no hay forma de hacer mÁs

velazquez: thank you. let's be clear. there's going to need to be much more assistance in the future. puerto rico will need help rebuilding its energy grid, repairing telecommunications networks, and putting its bridges and roads back together. we cannot forget shoring up the island's medicaid system, something that was critical before maria but is even more important now. this problem is of congress making and we must fix it. make no mistake, those priorities will require more money and we will need to come back andity address them in a few weeks this epeople of puerto rico are american citizens and you know what, even when so many of my brothers and cysters are suffering in puerto rico, are fatesing a humanitarian crisis, at least, at last 50% of the people in this country who didn't know puerto ricans are american citizens are learning that fact. es, american citizens. puerto ricans were invaded and taken over by the u.s. government so now it is our responsibility to make puerto rico whole. i yield back. the speaker pr

carolina: la congresista nydia velÁzquez enviÓ una carta directamente a fema para que los investiguete las emergencias surge la creatividad. nuestra prevista de univision.com fue testigo en puerto rico, acaba de volver de la isla del encanto y vio cÓmo la gente tenido que inventar de todo. nuevo rÁpidamente con Él, -- me voy rÁpidamente con Él, o te vienes para acÁ, quÉ estÁ haciendo la gente? reportero: la gente se as uzuz É gusta esa sonrisa, porque ante la necesidad urgente sÓlo creativa para poder salir adelante. javier: toda la razÓn. ante esta crisis que vive puerto rico, las sese..se uiui rúrús s co elelfofoo o n n n ja: : tus manos pueden hacer cosas increíbles. con godaddy gocentral, ellos también pueden construir un mejor sitio web en menos de una hora. incluso desde tu teléfono móvil. es fácil. comienza gratis en godaddy. es sólo una colilla de cigarrillo. sólo una basurita. sólo un escape leve de cientos de químicos peligrosos en nuestro medio ambiente. y, por si fuera poco, carcinógenos. ok, es desecho tóxico que puede tomar hasta 10 años en descomponerse. y es sólo una

la congresista nydia velÁzquez pidiÓ la intervención de la junta sobre este asunto.mos que empezar a acostumbrarnos a una dictadura. >> absolutamente no. nicolÁs maduro estÁ aislado internacionalmente. eso es gracias a la lucha ciudadana de estos meses. en marzo de este aÑo, venezuela era un paÍs que se veía entregado. en cuestiÓn de horas reaccionó. encuentro a la ciudadanÍa con un espÍritu intacto. jorge: mÁs de esta entrevista. marÍa: el senador republicano, marco rubio,dijo que los ataques acÚsticos en la habana los hizo el gobierno cubano o sabe quiÉn los hizo. el gobierno de la isla monitorea los diplomÁticos estadounidenses que trabajan en la embajada, 24 horas al dÍa, siete dÍas a la semana. jorge: emilio oscar guillÉn dejarÁ la presidencia de televisa. tiene quentin o de aÑos y, durante los Últimos 20, convirtiÓ a televisa en una de las principales empresas multinacionales de comunicaciÓn. seguirÁ siendo accionista mayoritario. televisa es un conglomerado de medios y telecomunicaciones que es accionista minoritario de esta cadena, univisiÓn. ♪ >> en nuestra

nyn: that was commerce woman dia velazquez. we're also joined by carla minet , who is co-author of the new investigation by in these times . welcome to democracy now! >> good morning. juan: you list a bunch, especially the top 10, holders of the debt. not surprisingly, from what i saw of the list, seven of the 10 are based in new york city. could you talk about some of these funds? many of them are hardly household names. few people know they exist unless they are in the financial world. >> definitely. who have been investigating this issue for the past three years, i believe, so most of them are not new names. , like onee cases whose parent company is [indiscernible] about their owners just recently because a journalist went on looking for directions, different kinds of anonymous directions, and finally got to an address where they found the owner of the firm. so some of them have been anonymous for some time. amy: carla, we are very glad we were able to get you online. we hoped to have you on video stream. obviously, it is ex

carolina: la congresista nydia velÁzquez enviÓ una carta directamente a fema para que los investiguete las emergencias surge la creatividad. nuestra prevista de univision.com fue testigo en puerto rico, acaba de volver de la isla del encanto y vio cÓmo la gente tenido que inventar de todo. nuevo rÁpidamente con Él, -- me voy rÁpidamente con Él, o te vienes para acÁ, quÉ estÁ haciendo la gente? reportero: la gente se las estÁ ingiriendo, no hay electricidad, no hay agua. la gente estÁ tratando de hacer las cosas. para lavar la ropa estÁ midiendo tablas manuales para lavar la ropa, estÁn creando lavadoras hechas en la casa. la gente mueve un palo con una cubeta y hacen malabares. carolina: aquÍ tenemos las cifras, pero quiero que revÉ las imÁgenes de las tablas, de las lavadores . ahÍ las tenemos. javier: imagÍnate, a travÉs de un balde logran hacer una lavadora. no hay luz, no hay posibilidad de lavar la ropa de la manera convencional, que conocemos y la gente estÁ haciendo las cosas. reportero: sÍ, ella dice que ella agarro un palo, lo cubeta, todo eso, ella lo menea y lava su ropa.

velazquez: thank you. let's be clear. there's going to need to be much more assistance in the future. puerto rico will need help rebuilding its energy grid, repairing telecommunications networks, and putting its bridges and roads back together. we cannot forget shoring up the island's medicaid system, something that was critical before maria but is even more important now. this problem is of congress making and we must fix it. make no mistake, those priorities will require more money and we will need to come back andity address them in a few weeks this epeople of puerto rico are american citizens and you know what, even when so many of my brothers and cysters are suffering in puerto rico, are fatesing a humanitarian crisis, at least, at last 50% of the people in this country who didn't know puerto ricans are american citizens are learning that fact. es, american citizens. puerto ricans were invaded and taken over by the u.s. government so now it is our responsibility to make puerto rico whole. i yield back. the speaker pr

. >> reporter: the velazquez family wanted their kids to appreciate seeing a huge military vessel andervice members in uniform. >> i think it just symbolizes a unity and the importance of, you know, what they're doing. >> reporter: on chestnut street, civilians got to pay it forward at a burger benefit for veterans. >> this is our buy a burger for a sailor fundraiser. all the funds we collect go to funding our crew barbecue this sunday in front of the "uss essex." >> reporter: be sure to plan your travels. traffic and long lines are expected. in san francisco, lonni rivera, abc 7 news. >>> the bluegrass festival is taking place in golden gate park through tomorrow. ♪ it's expected to draw about a quarter of a million people. the stages are set up in three meadows. musician s includ musicians. >> the best thing for me is the cloud. >> i say you don't need tickets, just walk through the trees and you'll find the concert. >> because of the las vegas shootings, security is tighter at this year's event. organizers say the safety of attendees is their top priority. >>> this morning an oakla

velazquez: thank you, mr. speaker. i thank the gentlelady from new york for yielding. mr. speaker, for over 40 years the landmark supreme court stoodon roe vs. wade, has s a bull war, protection for we'll's rights. now in 2017 house republicans are leading yet another unconstitutional dangerous and outreach -- outright assault on women's health and privacy. this extreme bill not only takes aim at roe vs. wade, by lowering the ban on abortion to 20 weeks, it goes even further by promising to throw doctors in jail. this is a cynical, repugnant effort by republicans to pander to a far right base while jeopardizing women's health. all for a political payoff. at the same time this house is considering a measure restricting a woman's right to choose. we have not found time to assess 3.5 million american citizens who are suffering and dying in puerto rico. you call that pro-life? i urge republicans, listen to the majority of americans who support a woman's right to privacy and a safe abortion. reject this shameful bill. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady's time

. >> reporter: the velazquez family wanted their kids to appreciate seeing a huge military vessel andervice members in uniform. >> i think it just symbolizes a unity and the importance of, you know, what they're doing. >> reporter: on chestnut street, civilians got to pay it forward at a burger benefit for veterans. >> this is our buy a burger for a sailor fundraiser. all the funds we collect go to funding our crew barbecue this sunday in front of the "uss essex." >> reporter: you'll have another chance to tour this ship or watch the blue angels dazzle the sky. but be sure to plan your travels. traffic and long lines are expected. in san francisco, lonni rivera, abc 7 news. >>> the hartley strictly bluegrass festival is taking place in golden gate park through tomorrow. ♪ it's expected to draw about a quarter of a million people. the stages are set up in three meadows, hellman hollow, lynnly and marks meadows. this year's musicians include cheap trick and emiemmy lou har. alcohol is not sold but there's plenty of food. >> people ask me where do you get tickets? i say, you don't need t

. >> reporter: while no wrongdoing is being alleged, democratic congresswoman velazquez is demandingrs. >> we need to protect taxpayers, but we also need to protect the people of puerto rico and the way to do that is by making sure that we hire the company that has the experience and the capability. >> well, whitefish energy and the interior department says there was no coordination on awarding the contract. however, they both made that point by using nearly identical statements. i want you to take a look at part of the statement we got from the interior department. it says, the zinkes and techmanskies know each other because they both live in a small town where everyone knows everyone. and you look at the same statement from the company. i want says, our ceo and the secretary know each other because they both live in a small town where everybody knows everyone. you know, again, they are pretty, pretty steadfast saying that they did not coordinate this and a spokesperson for the energy company spoke with cnn yesterday and they said that they only communicated with the interior depart

velazquez: are you working with some housing groups on the ground? sec. carson: and i will be going to puerto rico myself. rep. velazquez: that is great, but that doesn't provide the assistance today. people are dying. it is the rainy season in puerto rico. i understand fema promised to bring roofs that were lost. it is the rainy season. people are dying today. sec. carson: fema is the first responder their. they are gathering information there, we are working in the process for the long-term recovery. carson, whenz: dr. you were nominated by the president, i said what does he know about housing? but then, you are a doctor and said you would take care of those who are suffering from health issues in public housing. i see a disconnect between your confirmation hearings and your commitment to address the issue of asthma respiratory illnesses in public housing, and pulling $2 billion out of the capital and operating funds for housing. >> the time for the gentlelady has expired. the chair recognizes mr. royce from california. ,epresentative royce: thank you m

. >> congressman velazquez is from new york and also is puerto rican. >> we shouldn't be surprised, donaldmpathy at a time when it's needed and a lack of understanding about how to get things done. but just moving beyond that, what is more disturbing for me, when i looked at his tweet just about 30 minutes ago, 47,000, more than 47,000 people have liked this tweet, thought it was good. it was a good message he was sending. let's assume that half of those people thought it was smart. it's very interesting to see tom barrack come out and then john kelly, two men who are respected and well liked by reporters trying to defend the president. >> it also does have the effect of someone inside a burning house saying everything is fine. and so you have to take everything you're saying right now. >> you have a good understanding of why he started this day, ron brownstein, with this tweet about puerto rico on a day he announced some major health care reforms, with an executive order, he announced a new secretary of homeland security. why deal with puerto rico on a time when he wanted to focus on othe

. >> reporter: the velazquez family wanted their kids to appreciate seeing a huge military vessel andervice members in uniform. >> i think it just symbolizes a unity and the importance of, you know, what they're doing. >> reporter: on chestnut street, civilians got to pay it forward at a burger benefit for veterans. >> this is our buy a burger for a sailor fundraiser. all the funds we collect go to funding our crew barbecue this sunday in front of the "uss essex." >> reporter: you'll have another chance to tour this ship or watch the blue angels dazzle the sky. but be sure to plan your travels. traffic and long lines are expected. in san francisco, lonni rivera, abc 7 news. >>> the hartley strickly bluegrass festival is taking place in golden gate park through tomorrow. ♪ it's expected to draw about a quarter of a million people. the stages are set up in three meadows, hellman hollow, lynnly and marks meadows. this year's musicians include t-bone burnett, cheap trick and emmy lou harris. alcohol is not sold but there's plenty of food. >> the best thing about this place for me is the c

thanks to democracy now's juan carlos davilla for that report from vieques, with help from edwin velazquezd that does it for our show. juanocracy now! cohost gonzalez will be speaking tonight in berkeley, california, 7:30 p.m. at pegasus books downtown. next week, he will be speaking at the university of virginia in charlottesville, that is next thurursday. and on friday night and saturday, we will both be speaking at the state university of new york in albany. you can check our website for details. democracy now! is looking for feedback from people who appreciate the closed captioning. e-mail your comments to outreach@democracynow.org or mail them to democracy now! p.o. box 693 new york, new york 10013. [captioning made possible by democracy now!]

thanks to democracy now's juan carlos davilla for that report from vieques, with help from edwin velazquezd that does it for our show. juanracy now! cohost gonzalez will be speaking tonight in berkeley, california, 7:30 p.m. at pegasus books downtown. next week, he will be speaking at the university of virginia in charlottesville, that is next thursday. and on friday night and saturday, we will both be speaking at the state university of new york in albany. you can check our website for details. democracy now! is looking for feedback from people who appreciate the closed captioning. e-mail your comments to outreach@democracynow.org or mail them to democracy now! p.o. box 693 new york, new york 10013. [captioning made possible by democracy now!] y on ellie's real good food, the secret to having breakfast, lunch, and dinner ready and waiting anytime. blueberry chia overnight oats, turkey sausage stuffed pizza pockets, and cajun shrimp in foil packets. all make ahead recipes designed for those of us who are dancing as fast as we can. like my guest today, beth mccoin, a full time nurse and sin

thanks to democracy now's juan carlos davilla for that report from vieques, with help from edwin velazquezd that does it for our show. juanocracy now! cohost gonzalez will be speaking tonight in berkeley, california, 7:30 p.m. at pegasus books downtown. next week, he will be speaking at the university of virginia in charlottesville, that is next thurursday. and on friday night and saturday, we will both be speaking at the state university of new york in albany. you can check our website for details. democracy now! is looking for feedback from people who appreciate the closed captioning. e-mail your comments to outreach@democracynow.org or mail them to democracy now! p.o. box 693 new york, new york 10013. [captioning made possible by democracy now!] announcer: this is a production of china central television america. mike: when it comes toto their freedom and rights, women often face gender inequality, oppression, even violence around the world. this week on "full frame" we'll introduce you to amazing women, determined to defy the odddds and speak k up n their own n defense worldwide.e. i'm

joining me now, puerto rican native velazquez.you look at these new numbers, 350 million bucks donated to harvey victims. $45 million to irma. only $9 million so far. how are we going to help our fellow americans in puerto rico? >> let me just say, this is absolutely not adequate. this is a short-term relief package that will provide money for fema to continue the work that they're doing in terms of cleaning up the roads and bridges in puerto rico and the virgin islands. after that, we have to come back and work on a robust recovery package. the estimates are putting the losses in puerto rico between $85 billion to $90 billion. and puerto rico right now is facing a lack of liquidity. today i will be sending a letter to secretary mnuchin with other members of congress asking for treasury to set up a liquidity facility so that puerto rico could have access to cash. >> but how do you separate things? because puerto rico was already in the dire financial situation with a massive amount of debt and a broken electrical grid before the s

i want to thank chairman chabot, ranking member velazquez, chairman smith and all other colleagues on both committees for their work to advance this bipartisan piece of this house floor. sbir and sttr are valuable programs that provide competitive research and development grants. and contracts to innovative small businesses. the ability and continuity in the sbir and sttr programs are important goals which is why i supported the agreement in last year's national defense authorization act. to extend the program until fiscal year 2022 at the current allocation rate -- level. h.r. 2763, the two authorizing committees have come to agreement on a number of policy improvements. and some strengthen oversight for the programs. the policy changes in h.r. 2763 advances sensible ways to further leverage small business r&d to help meet needs as well as contribute more broadly to the u.s. innovation and economic growth. the bill includes continued support for early stage funding for entrepreneurial researchers, provides funding for important agency outreach and administrative activities, streamlin

velazquez: i'm prepared to close. h.r. 3901 will impositive the way we manage cybersecurity risks at our ports. with increased need for technology, it is in our national and economic interests to have better information sharing and better coordination at our ports. by assessing cyber risks and establishing countermeasures, the maritime sector will improve these sectors. i encourage my colleagues to support h.r. 3101. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. mr. mccaul. mr. mccaul: i urge my colleagues to support this legislation and i congratulate miss torres and mr. vela. we have passed over 50 bills out of my committee out of the house floor and sent them to the senate where they still sit there with no action whatsoever and when it comes to homeland security measures, i believe that it is dangerous not to do nothing. and i urge the senate to take up action on this bill and the other 50 bills. with that, mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: will the house suspend the

those who dismiss daca as presidential overreach, take the time to meet the d.r.e.a.m.er christina velazquez. christina, are you here? thank you for joining us. let me tell you about her. she was 6 years old when she came to the u.s. from venezuela. now a student at georgetown, has received the president's volunteer service award two years in a row. she's dedicated two undergraduate summers and a full school year volunteering as a teacher. when she graduates from georgetown in the summer, she'll start working for teach for america, which already has 190 daca recipients teaching kids across the united states in many challenging school districts. there are so many others in the room, i could spend my time introducing them, but i know we want to get on to the hearing. i just want to say this about the people i have introduced and the others who are here. america needs to know that the clock is ticking on their lives. consider this. beginning on march 5th, 2018, every work day for the following two years, every work day, approximately 1400 d.r.e.a.m.ers will lose their work permits and be subjec

velazquez. thank you, mr. chairman. dr. courson, i am here. i'm the only puerto rican american citizen has a fitness committee. so since i don't have president trump in front of me, it just would like for you to let him know how shameful all the tweets that he put out this morning, how offended and insulted im as an american citizen. and i would like to suggest that the president gets in history lessons regarding the puerto rican relationship with the united states. in 1898, american troops invaded puerto rico. american troops took over puerto rico. in a team 17, puerto ricans didn't invite the united states armed forces. it was invaded. so what not invasion comes responsibility. in a team 17, american citizenship was imposed on puerto ricans, timely subeight they could join the armed forces and fight. .. >> is to show up and make and provide the assistance and the relief that american citizens need. they don't need this type of insult. and by the way, why is it that he doesn't put the same to it when it comes to texas or florida? you invaded

velazquez. from the committee on transportation and infrastructure for sections of 1082, 1611, , on 1695, 3501 and 3505 through 10 of the house bill and section 13501 and 135508 and and 14013 of the senate amendment. and modifications committed to conference, messers. graves of missouri. and from the committee on 1077ans affairs, 573, 576, and 2841 of the house bill and 1254.n 731, 1084, 1088, 11001. 11008 and 14004 of the senate amendment and modifications committed to conference. messers. roe of tennessee, bilirakis and walz. from the committee of ways and means consideration of senate amendment and modifications committed to conference, mr. tiberi, pls walorski. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to take from the speaker's table the bill h.r. 1616, strengthening state and local cyber crime fighting act with the senate amendment thereto and concur in the senate amendment. the speaker pro tempore: the