SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On Friday, April 1, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will make her first official visit to Puerto Rico where she will highlight the economic benefits of tourism to the Commonwealth and make an important announcement benefitting San Juan youth.
Secretary Jewell is the latest senior Obama Administration official to travel to Puerto Rico, following visits from Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew, Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and Secretary of Education John King earlier this year to urge action by Congress to provide Puerto Rico with the tools it needs to address the crisis, restructure its debt, support reform and enable growth.
While in Puerto Rico, Secretary Jewell will meet with Governor Alejandro García Padilla Friday morning and join him for a walking tour of iconic historic U.S. National Park Service sites, including the Castillo San Felipe El Morro. Jewell will also meet with the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico to discuss progress on environmental and education projects across the Commonwealth and how these projects have benefited the eco- and cultural tourism economy.
In the afternoon, Jewell will also join Mayor of San Juan Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto, YMCA of San Juan Chief Executive Officer Diego Martin and local partners for a community service project and major announcement related to the Interior Department’s leadership of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Outside initiative , which aims to inspire millions of kids to play, learn, serve and work outdoors.
Through providing opportunities on public lands, the initiative seeks to prepare the next generation of leaders and outdoor stewards in communities nationwide and help the Interior Department reach its goal of hosting one million volunteers on public lands annually.
Since 2006, Puerto Rico and the 3.5 million American citizens who call the Commonwealth home have endured a decade-long recession and are facing a serious crisis that requires immediate congressional action. Fiscal conditions have contributed to record numbers of citizens leaving Puerto Rico for the mainland. Puerto Rico’s population has declined by 300,000 over the past 10 years. Budget shortfalls have caused Puerto Rico government to curtail health, education and public safety services because it cannot pay all of its bills. This crisis will only continue to worsen as upcoming debt payment becomes due on May 1.
The Administration has worked extensively with Puerto Rican officials to find solutions to the Commonwealth’s fiscal crisis. In October, the Administration released a Congressional Roadmap to provide Puerto Rico with a comprehensive restructuring authority to address all its liabilities, appropriate fiscal oversight, a long-term solution to Puerto Rico’s historically inadequate treatment under Medicaid, and tax incentives to jumpstart economic growth. The elements of the Administration’s plan are essential to Puerto Rico's recovery and long-term growth. However, only Congress has the authority to provide Puerto Rico with the necessary tools to address the crisis and to lay the foundation for the Commonwealth’s recovery, and Congress must act now.
Secretary Jewell’s visit and announcement is part of the Administration-wide effort to bring the full capabilities of the Executive branch to bear in providing assistance to speed Puerto Rico’s economic recovery.
Who:
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Alejandro García Padilla, Governor, Puerto Rico
Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto, Mayor, City of San Juan
Diego Martin, Chief Executive Officer, YMCA of San Juan
Nikole Eskartin, National Park Service volunteer, 2014 Conservation Corps Member
What:
Official visit to Puerto Rico
Event #1: Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico Meeting
Who:
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Carmen Guerrero, Secretary of Natural Resources, Puerto Rico
Fernando Lloveras San Miguel, Esq, Executive Director, Conservation Trust
Jorge Baez, Director of Operations, Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico
Dennis Rivera, Conservation Trust Board Trustee
When:
Friday, April 1, 2016
12:00 p.m. AST – Meeting with Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico
Where:
Las Lunas Natural Protected Area
Event #2: Important Youth Initiative announcement
Who:
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto, Mayor, City of San Juan
Diego Martin, Chief Executive Officer, YMCA of San Juan
Nikole Eskartin, National Park Service volunteer, 2014 Conservation Corps Member
When:
Friday, April 1, 2016
1:45 p.m. AST – Media check-in
2:00 p.m. AST – Press conference
2:20 p.m. AST – Media availability and service project
Where:
Luis Muñoz Marín Park
Expreso Las Américas
San Juan, 00920, Puerto Rico
Media:
Credentialed members of the media are encouraged to RSVP here.
Source: Department of Interior
