Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner, Pablo José Hernández, led a press conference in San Juan with Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Emily Randall (WA-06), and Val Hoyle (OR-4) to present the New Democrat Coalition’s Affordability Agenda. The agenda aims to address the rising cost of living in Puerto Rico and across their districts.
During the event, speakers discussed how economic pressures such as tariffs from former President Trump, supply chain disruptions, and policies favoring large corporations have had a significant impact on Puerto Rico.
“The cost-of-living crisis in Puerto Rico is real and immediate, it’s what families see when they buy groceries, pay their electric bill, or pick up prescriptions. That’s why we brought the New Democrat Coalition’s Affordability Agenda directly to the island,” said Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández. “This is a serious policy roadmap built from what communities are telling us on the ground, focused on lowering everyday costs and delivering relief where it’s needed most. Puerto Rico and our districts cannot afford more broken promises, we need solutions.”
Representative Wasserman Schultz highlighted the financial strain caused by recent trade policies: “Trump’s trade war taxes took over $1,600 from average family budgets last year, as electric bills, grocery prices and housing costs took huge bites out our budgets, while tens of millions of Americans saw their healthcare coverage ripped away or they had to pay monthly insurance bills that doubled or tripled,” she said. “The people of Puerto Rico and Florida feel this squeeze even harder than most Americans. But while Republicans are busy making life even more unaffordable, Democrats have detailed plans to actually lower costs and fix a broken system that puts Trump’s billionaires over working people.”
Nellie Pou emphasized the importance of enabling residents to build their futures locally: “It’s time for Congress to ensure that people can build their futures where their hearts truly belong, right here in Puerto Rico. As members of the New Democrat Coalition, the challenges facing this island are not new to us. That’s why we are focused on addressing the root causes of economic hardship. In Puerto Rico, that means expanding affordable housing and creating real pathways for young people to rent or purchase their first home,” she said.
Emily Randall spoke about supporting essential health programs: “We have a real challenge in front of us. It is our job as members of Congress to deliver stability, reliability, and the support that people across this country need. I’m proud of the New Democrat Coalition’s Affordability Agenda, which reinvests in critical health care programs like Medicaid and Medicare and works to expand them so they serve all people equally.”
Val Hoyle pointed out workforce development opportunities tied to infrastructure investment: “These investments not only strengthen our infrastructure, they also create opportunities to train the next generation in the building trades. That is what this affordability agenda is about because the best social program is a good-paying job where families don’t have to choose between paying rent or putting food on the table,” she said.
The New Democrat Coalition consists of 114 House Democrats who describe themselves as pragmatic policymakers committed to advancing fiscally responsible initiatives aimed at reducing costs for families and strengthening local economies.
The Affordability Agenda focuses on five key areas: lowering costs for groceries and household essentials; reducing expenses related to health care; increasing access to affordable housing; modernizing energy infrastructure for more predictable utility bills; and supporting family care needs such as child care for working parents and assistance for seniors.
In Puerto Rico specifically, higher food prices result from heavy reliance on imports; many seniors depend on Medicare Advantage plans; while high energy costs place additional pressure on both households and small businesses.
All participating representatives at this event are members of the New Democrat Coalition.
