News Clips - Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act

About Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón

Jenniffer González-Colón was elected in 2016 as Puerto Rico's sole Representative to the U.S. Congress, being the first woman to hold the seat and receiving the most votes of any elected official on the Island.
A lifelong activist for Puerto Rican statehood, she entered public office in 2002 in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives where she held the posts of Speaker and Minority Leader.
Her priorities in Congress include spearheading economic recovery for Puerto Rico, securing equal treatment for Puerto Rico's 3.2 million U.S. Citizens, defending Veterans’ rights, and achieving Puerto Rico’s admission as the 51st state of the Union.

González-Colón has been tasked with representing Puerto Rico in the aftermath of its worst disasters in 90 years and her leadership in Congress and before the Administration, organizing visits of federal officials and building bipartisan alliances, has produced tens of billions of dollars in appropriations and legislation for infrastructure rebuilding and improvement.

The Congresswoman holds advanced degrees in Law and is part of the Republican Conference’s House Policy Committee. She’s also a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the National Resources Committee, Science, Space and Technology Committee, is the co-Vice Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues and chairs the Puerto Rico Economic Growth Caucus and the Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus. Rep. Gonzalez was part of the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and Small Business in the 115th.

González Colón had to represent Puerto Rico during its worst natural disaster in 90 years after hurricanes Irma and Maria. Her efforts to keep Puerto Rico’s recovery at the forefront of Congress’ attention, organizing visits of members of Congress and high federal officials, building bipartisan alliances, have produced over $30 Billion in appropriations after the disaster as well as legislation allowing infrastructure to be rebuilt to improved standards, full federal share in funding for rebuilding, and an extension in the emergency agencies’ mandates.

A product of the Puerto Rico public schools, holder of a Juris Doctorand Master of Laws degree (LL.M.), González-Colón serves as Chair of the Puerto Rico Republican Party, and First Vice Chair of the local New Progressive Party, standard bearer for Puerto Rico statehood. She has received recognition for her career as an elected official by the Puerto Rico United Retailers Center, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, and Manufacturer’s Association and was selected as an Elected Woman of Excellence by the National Foundation for Women Legislators, among other awards and memberships.