Report

DELEGATION MEMBERS AND STAFF

From December 6-9, 2013, the Honourable Wayne Easter, P.C., M.P., Vice-Chair and Mr. John Williamson, M.P., Vice-Chair led a delegation from the Canadian Section of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (IPG) to the 2013 Annual Meeting and Regional Policy Forum of the Council of State Government’s Eastern Regional Conference (ERC) in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. The other delegates were Senators Terry M. Mercer and Richard Neufeld, and Mr. Peter Stoffer, M.P. The delegation was accompanied by Ms. Angela Crandall, Executive Secretary to the Canadian Section, and Ms. June Dewetering, the Canadian Section’s Senior Advisor.

THE EVENT

The ERC, which meets annually, is a regional association of state legislators from 19 member jurisdictions from Canada and the United States (see the Appendix). By facilitating cooperation among its member jurisdictions, the ERC promotes multi-state or region-wide solutions to the problems and challenges facing state and provincial legislators.

The ERC’s 53rd annual meeting and regional policy forum had the theme of “Succeeding in a Time of Austerity.”

DELEGATION OBJECTIVES FOR THE EVENT

Canada and the 11 ERC states share a mutually beneficial relationship. The country is the largest export destination for the six New England states, and Canada is the destination for 18% of those states’ exports. More than 350,000 jobs in the New England states depend on trade with Canada.

Members of the Canadian Section found the ERC’s 53rd annual meeting and regional policy forum to be a valuable occasion on which to discuss the numerous opportunities for Canada and the eastern U.S. states to collaborate, and they benefited from presentations on a variety of issues, including Canada-U.S. relations and border issues, regional transportation, healthcare and education. They were also able to support their provincial colleagues in discussions about a number of resolutions that affect Canada, including the United States’ mandatory country-of-origin labelling requirements and expediting customs preclearance agreements. Feeling that members of the Canadian Section were able to achieve their objectives for the event, the Section hopes to attend future annual meetings of the ERC to continue its work in advocating Canadian interests in the eastern United States.

The IPG aims to find points of convergence in respective national policies, to initiate dialogue on points of divergence, to encourage the exchange of information and to promote better understanding among legislators on shared issues of concern. Members of the IPG’s Canadian Section meet regularly with their federal counterparts and, in recent years, have attended meetings of governors and state legislators. At these events, Canadian delegates engage in conversations that help the Canadian Section to achieve its objectives, and that explain the nature and scope of the bilateral relationship.

ACTIVITIES DURING THE EVENT

At the 53^rd annual meeting and regional policy forum, the following plenary sessions were held:

·         The Politics of Austerity Versus Possibility

·         The Long Road from Recession to Economic Recovery

·         Immigration Reform: Finding a Path Forward.

As well, site visits occurred to a plantain farm, the El Yunqué National Forest and U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, and concurrent sessions were held on the following topics:

·         Composting-Residual Herbicides: What Regulators Need To Know

·         The Farm Bill and The Feds: An Update

·         The Issue with Equines in Connecticut

·         Water, Agriculture, Regulations and Rewards

·         Purchase of Development Rights: State Efforts

·         Roundtable on Innovative State and Provincial Energy and Environmental Legislation

·         Value over Volume 2.0

·         Legislative Roundtable: Transportation

·         A Discussion on Food Labelling

·         Current Legislative Efforts by State and Provincial Legislatures

·         Weathering the Storm: Resiliency-Building Strategies to Protect States & Communities from Severe Weather Events

·         Severe Weather Wrap-up: Where Do We Go From Here?

·         Beyond the Border: Unfinished Business

·         The Intersection of Public Opinion and Energy Policy in North America

·         Improving Outcomes for People with Mental Illnesses in Contact with the Justice System

·         Keeping Kids in School and Out of the Juvenile Justice System

·         From Recession to Economic Recovery

·         Fiscal Roundtable

·         New Directions in Secondary Education

·         Building Pathways to Success: Innovation, Education Reform and The States

·         Roundtable on the Affordable Care Act Implementation

·         Diabetes: What is it Costing Your State?

·         Facing the Media

·         Why Tax Incentives Matter

·         Impact of Supreme Court Decisions: Impacts on the States

·         Roundtable Discussion of Current Legislative Efforts by State and Provincial Legislatures: Agriculture and Rural Development

·         Puerto Ricans in the United States: Past, Present and Future.

This report summarizes the plenary and selected concurrent discussions that occurred at the annual meeting and regional policy forum.

BEYOND THE BORDER: UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Brian Lee Crowley, Macdonald-Laurier Institute

·         Canada and the United States do not form a trading bloc, and the two countries no longer have a trading relationship as that term is commonly understood.

·         Canada and the United States are economically integrated; they are not two countries and two economies trading finished goods and services, but rather a single economy shared by two countries.

·         Canada and the United States are a “production bloc,” making things together and trading with the rest of the world; the countries are not traders, but rather “makers” on a North American basis.

·         Regarding Canada and the United States, to hurt one is to hurt the other as well.

·         The common border between Canada and the United States matters; the ability of shared production blocs to be competitive can be helped or hindered by the border.

·         A “thick” border is a self-imposed penalty that makes countries less competitive, and inefficiencies at the border – which are a national, state/provincial and local problem – harm prosperity.

·         The Beyond the Border (BTB) Action Plan is leading to some progress.

Speaker Dave Levac, Legislative Assembly of Ontario

·         Ontario has the largest and busiest border with the United States.

·         In various parts and stages of production, an automobile crosses the Canada-U.S. border 27 times before the automobile is purchased by the customer; consequently, the border is “hugely” important.

·         For Ontario and several U.S. states, the ease with which goods and people can move is important.

·         Canada is the primary foreign export market for 38 U.S. states.

·         Annually, goods valued at more than $605 million cross the Ontario-U.S. border by highway.

·         It makes sense to make the border easier, rather than more difficult.

·         One objective of the BTB Declaration and Action Plan is to accelerate economic growth through trade facilitation at the shared border.

·         The new international crossing at Detroit-Windsor is expected to be completed by 2020.

Jayson Myers, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters

·         More goods cross the Ambassador Bridge between Canada and the United States than the United States trades with Japan or Europe.

·         The competitiveness of supply chains and manufacturing is important for prosperity and job creation.

·         Korean automobiles that are made exclusively in Korea “dock” once, and thereby undergo customs inspection once; this situation should be contrasted with automobiles made in North America, the parts of which may cross the Canada-U.S. border 27 times – with 27 inspections –before sale to the customer.

·         The BTB initiative is a “win-win” situation, as it is designed to enhance efficiency and security.

·         From the manufacturing perspective, priorities include the following:

§  Improve trusted shipper programs.

§  Improve trusted traveller programs.

§  Develop a single-window compliance system.

§  Ensure adequate border infrastructure.

·         It is important to focus on whether the BTB Action Plan – and its projects and other initiatives – is resulting in a border that is more efficient; from the perspective of manufacturers and exporters, it is not certain that conditions at the shared border have improved, as the rate of secondary inspection of trusted shippers has risen, there are more infrastructure “bottlenecks,” and there are issues in relation to infrastructure funding and planning.

·         Consultation should not be mistaken for action.

·         Legislators have a role to play in reinvigorating the BTB process, which is strategically important to the economies of both countries.

Douglas Garfield, PepsiCo

·         Since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, there has been increased interest in who and what is crossing borders.

·         BTB is a comprehensive, joint U.S.-Canada initiative with four “planks”:

§  addressing threats at the earlier opportunity;

§  facilitating trade, economic growth and jobs;

§  building on successful cross-border law enforcement; and

§  enhancing cross-border critical and cyber infrastructure.

·         Regarding the priority of addressing threats early, the principle is “cleared once, accepted twice.”

·         Regarding trade facilitation, one priority is enhancing benefits for trusted traders.

·         While the BTB initiative is “high on ambition,” to date it has been more aspirational than focused on implementation, and pilot projects have been a significant focus.

Don Hannon, Hannon Transportation Consulting

·         Pre-clearance for passenger rail travel, similar to that which exists at some airports, is needed.

·         Existing rail links where pre-clearance should be considered include the following:

§  Vancouver-Seattle

§  Montreal-New York City

§  Niagara Falls, Ontario-Niagara Falls, New York.

·         Potential rail links where pre-clearance could be considered include the following:

§  Montreal-Vermont

§  Windsor-Detroit

§  Montreal-Boston, through Maine.

·         Since the tragedy at Lac-Mégantique, there have been two additional train derailments in North America involving crude oil.

·         As there is insufficient pipeline capacity to move crude oil to refineries, some crude oil is moving by rail; the safety of tanker cars moving crude oil is important.

·         Regarding rail safety, self-regulation must end.

THE INTERSECTION OF PUBLIC OPINION AND ENERGY POLICY IN NORTH AMERICA

Nik Nanos, Nanos Research

·         The “theatre” and “drama” at the border that is portrayed in the media should not be confused with the way that Canadians and Americans feel about each other.

·         Americans have a positive view of Canada and Canadians.

·         An energy “version” of the Canada-U.S. Auto Pact is needed.

·         Americans are excited about the prospect of energy self-sufficiency.

·         Americans want a stable and secure supply of energy at a low price, and to reduce their reliance on non-North American energy.

·         The current bilateral energy dialogue is incomplete; Canada is a diversified energy partner, and the focus should not be just the Keystone XL pipeline proposal or the oil sands in Alberta.

·         The farther we get from the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the less there is a sense of urgency about the need to cooperate on border security issues.

·         Energy has “morphed” into an environmental issue, rather than into a competitiveness, prosperity and job creation issue; the notion of “prosperity” should be reintroduced into the “energy dialogue.”

·         North America will not be able to focus on inexpensive labour as a source of competitive advantage; instead, competitiveness will be linked to low energy prices.

THE POLITICS OF AUSTERITY VERSUS POSSIBILITY

Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect

·         The United States’ economic recovery is fragile, and the country “has a long way to go.”

·         The “politics of austerity” creates an “austerity of imagination.”

·         The climate of austerity was not created by the states, but the states have to be as creative as possible in dealing with austerity, as they cannot print money and they are required to balance their budget.

·         For the past two generations, the living standard of about 70% of Americans has declined, and this decline has been coincident with a doubling of productivity.

·         In the United States, if the words “national defence” are added to the beginning of any piece of legislation, that legislation will get passed.

·         It is unclear why legislators think that austerity is the right path to recovery; if everyone “tightens their belt” at the same time, no spending occurs, and the situation will get worse rather than better.

THE LONG ROAD FROM RECESSION TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Maria Celeste Arrarás, of the Telemundo USA Network, posed questions to Carlos Rivas, Barry Anderson and Robert Kuttner.

What can be done to spur growth?

Carlos Rivas, Office of Management and Budget of Puerto Rico

·         There are various sources of capital, including public-private partnerships (P3s) and exclusively private funding.

Barry Anderson, National Governors Association

·         The states should not expect further “bail outs” from the federal government.

·         The states should identify, and give priority to, “what works” and cut back on “what is less effective.”

·         P3s have risks.

Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect

·         Regarding P3s, there is a way to “do them well” and a way to “do them badly.”

·         In P3s, it is important that the private sector shares both the upside and the downside.

·         There is a range of economic development models; states should examine the models and select those that are appropriate.

Are tax-free zones a good policy choice?

Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect

·         Tax reductions should be targeted.

·         Low rates of taxation attract businesses, which should lead to higher tax revenue; that said, there is a danger of “a race to the bottom.”

What are the current trends in relation to public sector pension reform?

Carlos Rivas, Office of Management and Budget of Puerto Rico

·         There is a trend toward defined contribution pension plans for public sector employees.

Barry Anderson, National Governors Association

·         More and more is being spent on health care, and less and less is being spent on educating the nation’s children.

Can the United States survive without a strong middle class?

Barry Anderson, National Governors Association

·         The United States is vital and flexible.

·         Not only can the United States’ middle class survive, it can also thrive.

Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect

·         There is profound generational injustice in the United States because post-secondary education has been funded by going into debt.

·         The United States would be more competitive if people were paid a “living wage.”

·         The United States needs to “rebuild opportunity.”

What role should unions play as the United States emerges from the economic downturn?

Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect

·         Unions should advocate a higher minimum wage.

·         The federal government should set a “floor” minimum wage, and then the states and municipalities should “decide” on the minimum wage.

Barry Anderson, National Governors Association

·         The minimum wage should be set by the states, rather than by the federal government.

What actions should be taken in relation to education?

Barry Anderson, National Governors Association

·         A variety of funding models should be considered for education.

Carlos Rivas, Office of Management and Budget of Puerto Rico

·         Investments in education should be made in the “areas of the future.”

Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect

·         Investments should be made in community colleges.

What three actions should be taken by the states to assist the economy?

Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect

·         The states should:

§  be alert to P3s that “bear fruit”;

§  leverage partnerships with universities to promote economic development; and

§  have adequate revenues, even if taxes must be increased for some taxpayers.

IMMIGRATION REFORM: FINDING A PATH FORWARD

Representative Luis V. Gutiérrez, U.S. House of Representatives

·         The United States’ immigration system is broken, immigration reform is not a partisan issue and it is time to stop putting partisan politics ahead of good public policy; Republicans and Democrats should work together and negotiate to “get immigration reform done.”

·         Legislators should do the greatest good for the greatest number of immigrants now, and – the very next day – should continue to work on immigration issues.

·         A fundamental question is: does the United States want to be the nation that deports people, or does it want to be the nation that welcomes them?

·         There is a need to define the term “American” as someone who lives in America.

·         Puerto Rico is taking positive action on the issue of immigration; for example, in 2013, drivers licences were made available to immigrants, and health care and education were provided without questions about immigration status.

·         In December 2013, Illinois began to issue drivers licences to undocumented persons, and Massachusetts and New York are considering similar action.

·         In the United States, crops are picked by undocumented persons, thereby ensuring that Americans have food to eat; the ability to produce food is crucial to the future of the nation, and is an issue of security.

·         In the United States, undocumented persons do valuable and essential work; in addition to agricultural work, they clean hotel rooms, wash dishes in restaurants, give care to U.S. children, etc.

A DISCUSSION ON FOOD LABELLING

Barbara Schneeman, University of California

·         The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has draft guidance on the labelling of genetically engineered food, and foods derived from genetic engineering must meet the same labelling and safety standards as other foods.

·         As everything is genetically modified in some manner, the term “genetically engineered” is used by some.

·         With all foods, manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that food is safe, and it is not possible for them to “label their way out of” a need for safety.

·         Consumer preferences generally give rise to voluntary labelling, such as with organic foods.

·         The FDA has expressed concern about the use of the term “free” on labels; the term has been interpreted to mean “zero,” which is a claim that can be difficult to prove.

Amanda Hagan, Grocery Manufacturers Association

·         Labelling requirements should be based on health, safety and nutritional considerations; genetic modification is not related to any of these three considerations.

·         The labelling of genetically modified foods should be voluntary, as is currently the case with organic foods; there would be no benefit to requiring that genetically modified products be labelled as such.

·         Stipulations regarding whether a food is “genetically modified” should be uniform, with standards set at the federal level.

·         Genetically modified crops have been produced commercially for two decades, and genetically modified ingredients are safe and without negative health effects.

·         Genetic modification can reduce the price of, and increase the supply of, food.

·         For some time, many countries have had labelling requirements in relation to genetically modified foods.

·         While the European Union will not grow genetically modified animal feed, it will import such feed.

Gary Hirschberg, Just Label It Coalition

·         A federal solution is needed to the issue of the labelling of genetically modified foods.

·         As genetic engineering can result in benefits, the goal may be transparency and labelling genetically engineered foods as such.

·         Citizens have a right to have information about the food that they are consuming.

·         Today, food labelling occurs for reasons unrelated to safety; consider, for example, an indication about whether salmon is wild or farmed,, the country-of-origin indication on beef and pork, an indication about the presence of dyes, etc.

·         That which is deemed to be “material” should be labelled; for example, consider that calories have not always been indicated on food labels.

John Dillard, Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz, PC

·         There are three constitutional issues in relation to the labelling of genetically modified organisms:

§  the first amendment;

§  the commerce clause; and

§  the pre-emption clause.

·         Regarding the first amendment, provision is made for freedom of speech, which has personal, political and commercial aspects; that said, commercial freedom of speech exists to a lesser extent than do personal or political free speech.

·         In relation to commercial freedom of speech, there are two considerations:

§  compelled disclosure; and

§  restrictions on speech.

·         There are two categories in relation to compelled disclosures:

§  designed to prevent deception; and

§  not designed to prevent deception.

·         From a legal perspective, consumers do not have the right to know everything that is in their food; while health and safety is a substantial government interest, “curiosity” is not a compelling interest.

DIABETES: WHAT IS IT COSTING YOUR STATE?

Myriam Allende-Vigo, University of Puerto Rico

·         The incidences of diabetes and obesity are significant and rising.

·         The incidence of diabetes varies by ethnicity.

·         Significant proportions of the U.S. population have undiagnosed diabetes or are pre-diabetic.

·         Type II diabetes can be prevented through increased levels of physical activity, dietary changes and other lifestyle modifications.

·         Diabetes is linked to obesity, heart disease, stroke, blindness, limb amputation and kidney disease, among other health conditions.

·         As significant funds are spent on the complications associated with diabetes, it is important to “control the patient” in order to prevent diabetes.

·         About one third of U.S. children who were born in 2000 will develop diabetes.

Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr., New Jersey Legislature

·         The incidence of diabetes is growing, and diabetes should be regarded as an epidemic; as the “diabetes tsunami” is coming, it important to plan and to act.

·         People who are in their early 20s are being diagnosed with Type II diabetes.

·         The diabetes “problem” must be fixed so that it does not overwhelm other priorities.

·         In making policy choices, including regarding diabetes, policy makers and legislators must have the best available information; as well, strategic actions between and among departments and agencies must be coordinated.

·         Diabetes is linked to obesity, heart disease, kidney disease, blindness and amputation, among other ailments.

·         In relation to diabetes, the only way to “bend the cost curve,” is through lifestyle changes; such changes can have a significant impact on diabetes outcomes.

·         The cost of diabetes-related interventions can be high.

Heather Hodge, YMCA of the USA

·         Opportunities exist to prevent the development of Type II diabetes.

·         Of the 79 million Americans who are pre-diabetic, 11% know about their condition.

·         Most people do not know their diabetes risk status.

·         Participation in lifestyle and other behavioural modification programs can result in a significant reduction in the incidence of Type II diabetes.

·         The risk of diabetes rises with age.

·         The “healthy choice” should be the “easy choice.”

WEATHERING THE STORM: RESILIENCY-BUILDING STRATEGIES TO PROTECT STATES & COMMUNITIES FROM SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS

Vicki Arroyo, Georgetown Climate Center and Georgetown Law School

·         More storms are causing more damage more frequently, and major storms are becoming more frequent.

·         In addition to storms, other weather events are rising in frequency, including drought and fires.

·         Worldwide, the number of climate-related disasters is increasing.

·         In the United States, relevant federal agencies are doing adaptation planning, and many states have adaptation plans.

·         New buildings and new green spaces can be designed with climate change in mind.

·         Heat is the most direct consequence of climate change.

Sue Minter, Vermont Agency of Transportation

·         Climate change is “the issue” of our time.

·         As the Great Recession ends, there is a need to address the “enormous challenges” that are changing the world.

·         The continuum of recovery includes the following:

§  immediate response;

§  recovery;

§  long-term recovery; and

§  preparedness and resilience planning.

·         It is important to:

§  understand each community’s needs, vulnerabilities and capabilities;

§  establish clear goals and measure progress toward their attainment;

§  establish a clear system of coordination and communication between  and among government and recovery organizations;

§  forge partnerships;

§  understand federal programs;

§  expedite business practices;

§  innovate;

§  ensure the existence of regular, multi-media communications;

§  rapidly deploy an incident command centre.

·         The key to adaptation is knowing the vulnerabilities.

·         There is a connection between the natural world and the “built world.”

·         It is important for people who are in crisis to be heard, and all recovery is local.

·         In rebuilding, consideration should be given to “building back” with resilience.

BUILDING PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS: INNOVATION, EDUCATION REFORM AND THE STATES

Ana Maria Garcia Blanco, University of Sagrado Corazón

·         Schools need to act in a manner that will lead children to love mathematics and science.

·         Children have a natural love of learning.

Eva Moskowitz, Success Academies

·         In relation to education, the United States has a crisis of “monumental” proportions.

·         Americans are inventive and determined, and they know how to create “magical” school communities.

·         If Chinese children are doing “x, y and z” in grade 3, there is absolutely no reason why U.S. children cannot do the same thing in that grade.

·         Rigorous educational standards are needed.

·         There is a need to focus on how to make learning more engaging.

·         The keys to success in education include the following:

§  rigour;

§  engagement; and

§  teacher training.

Diane Ravitch, New York University

·         Through the Race to the Top and No Child Left Behind initiatives, the federal government has “taken over” education; instead, the states should be the leaders in relation to education, as they are the laboratories of change and democracy.

·         States need to take the lead and to “do the right thing” for children.

·         If poverty is reduced, test scores will rise; pre-natal care and pre-kindergarten are also important.

·         Students should be encouraged to be interested in mathematics and science.

·         Teachers should be highly experienced.

Chris Shearer, Hewlett Foundation and Brookings Institution

·         Rigour, engagement and teacher capacity are important.

·         An academic mindset, such as “I belong in school,” should be fostered.

·         Critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration skills should be encouraged.

WHY TAX INCENTIVES MATTER

Speaker Jaime Perelló Borrás, Puerto Rico House of Representatives

·         Like other countries, Puerto Rico is facing a challenging socioeconomic situation, and economic growth must be achieved through growth in all sectors.

·         Legislators need to put in place legislation and policies that lead to the creation of jobs and that support businesses.

·         Branding is an important part of marketing and attracting investment to a region or country.

·         Incentives are important for supporting small and medium-sized businesses.

·         Puerto Rico has generous film development incentives.

Ron Orlando, Comcast

·         Film industry tax incentives matter, and film production has significant economic spinoffs.

·         Digital media have changed people’s viewing patterns, and “content is king.”

Demetrio Fernández, Puerto Rico Film Commission

·         The cost of doing business in Puerto Rico, which has been a commonwealth of the United States since 1898, is 10% lower than in other parts of the United States.

·         San Juan, Puerto Rico is the eighth-busiest port in the United States.

·         Puerto Rico has world-class infrastructure.

·         Since 1994, more than 75 productions have been filmed in Puerto Rico.

PUERTO RICANS IN THE UNITED STATES: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Félix V. Matos Rodriguez, The City University of New York

·         The factors affecting migration by Puerto Ricans to the United States over the 1900-1940 period include the following:

§  the U.S. invasion of Puerto Rico and the transfer of sovereignty in 1898;

§  the granting of U.S. citizenship in 1917;

§  the need for domestic labour after 1924 resulting from immigration law restrictions;

§  commercial and maritime ties between U.S. cities on the east coast and Puerto Rico;

§  labour requirements in U.S. cities on the east coast; and

§  lack of growth in the Puerto Rican economy.

·         In 1940, about 70,000 Puerto Ricans lived in the United States, and 90% of them lived in New York City.

·         By 1950, each year, about 40,000 Puerto Ricans migrated to the mainland of the United States.

·         By 1960, the U.S.-based Puerto Rican population was 887,000, of which 615,000 were born in Puerto Rico and 272,000 were born in the United States; by that time, they had started to move to a variety of locations throughout the United States.

·         By 1970, 777,881 Puerto Rican migrants and almost 665,000 mainland-born Puerto Ricans lived in the United States; more than 60% lived in New York City, followed by Chicago and Philadelphia, and significant Puerto Rican communities existed in Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Hoboken, Bridgeport and Los Angeles.

·         Over the 1950 to 1977 period, 350,000 Puerto Rican contract workers were involved in the agricultural harvest in 22 states; during the 1950s and 1960s, between 10,000 and 17,000 agricultural labourers were contracted annually, with some returning to Puerto Rico at the end of the season and others settling in the United States permanently.

·         Some Puerto Ricans moved to the United States without having a job, and relied on networks of family and friends.

·         Urban economies provided employment, with women employed in manufacturing, such as the garment industry, and men employed in light manufacturing and services, such as hotels and restaurants.

·         For a brief period in the early 1970s, some Puerto Ricans left the United States and returned to Puerto Rico.

·         Between 1980 and 1990, the Puerto Rican population residing outside Puerto Rico grew by 35%.

·         According to the 1990 Census, there were 2.7 million Puerto Ricans in the United States in that year, and they represented 1.1% of the U.S. population.

·         In recent decades, Puerto Ricans have been leaving New York City or moving directly from Puerto Rico to smaller U.S. cities and suburban areas in the northeast, south and western parts of the United States.

·         Between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census, the stateside Puerto Rican population rose from about 3.4 million to more than 4.6 million; in 2010, two thirds of the stateside Puerto Rican population was U.S.-born and about one third was Puerto Rican-born.

·         In the 1980s and early 1990s, Puerto Ricans had low labour force participation rates and median family income, and a high rate of poverty.

·         In New York City, Puerto Ricans first began running for public office in the 1920s, with the first candidate elected to the state’s assembly in 1937.

·         Stateside Puerto Ricans have had persistently low voter registration and voter turnout rates.

·         At present, there are four Puerto Rican members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

·         Stateside Puerto Ricans are a young population, which makes education an important issue.

·         According to some sources, Puerto Ricans will continue to leave Puerto Rico if the current economic and quality-of-life trends continue; it is thought that they will continue to settle throughout the United States, including in Florida, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and perhaps Texas.

Respectfully submitted,