At the end of last week, Florida’s two U.S. senators–Republicans Rick Scott and Marco Rubio–announced they were going to introduce a resolution to honor the 500th anniversary of the founding of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico.
U.S. Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, R-PR, introduced the resolution in the U.S. House back in April.
“I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating the 500th anniversary of Puerto Rico’s capital city, San Juan,” Scott said on Friday. “As governor of Florida and now as senator, I’ve had the opportunity to visit Puerto Rico several times and see firsthand the rich culture, wonderful people and beauty the island has to offer. I’m proud to be a voice for Puerto Rico in the United States Senate and join Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon and Senator Marco Rubio to celebrate this important milestone for our brothers and sisters on the island. I’ll keep fighting every day to ensure that Puerto Rico is treated fairly, families on the island have their shot at living the American Dream and Puerto Rico can continue to thrive for future generations.”
“As we commemorate the 500th anniversary of the founding of the City of San Juan, I’m proud to join my fellow Americans in Puerto Rico as they celebrate the founding of the oldest city in our nation. This resolution pays tribute to the city’s legacy, which remains a historic gem for all American citizens,” Rubio said.
“San Juan was founded in 1521, making it the oldest continuously inhabited city established by Europeans in the United States. Today, Puerto Rico’s capital city is a major economic and trade center, home to one of the top 25 busiest container ports in the Nation. San Juan in also known for its rich culture and vibrant history, perhaps best encapsulated by its iconic cobblestone streets and the massive system of fortifications built by Spanish military engineers between the 16th and 18th centuries to defend the city. I was proud to introduce a bipartisan resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the founding of San Juan, and want to thank Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio for introducing a companion version in the Senate,” Gonzalez-Colon said
Gonzalez-Colon’s resolution is currently before the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee. There are seven co-sponsors including U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., and Darren Soto, D-Fla.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com
