NYC Gazette

Rep. Ritchie Torres, a U.S. Congressman representing New York's 15th district, has been vocal on various issues through his social media platform. In recent tweets, he addressed topics including Puerto Rico's statehood and mental health care legislation.

On December 4, 2024, Rep. Torres highlighted the ongoing issue of Puerto Rico's political status. He referenced Jack Schlossberg's remarks about Puerto Rico, stating that "The people of Puerto Rico have consistently voted for statehood, only to have their express will ignored by Congress time and time again."

On December 6, 2024, Rep. Torres announced his legislative efforts concerning mental health care funding. He tweeted about introducing legislation aimed at repealing the IMD exclusion: "I am introducing legislation that would repeal the IMD exclusion, which radically restricts the availability of federal funding for institutional care." He emphasized the importance of investment in in-patient care to prevent tragedies similar to the Ramon Rivera incident.

Additionally, on December 6, 2024, Rep. Torres criticized conditions at Rikers Island and advocated for better treatment options for those with serious mental illnesses. He stated that "An environment like Rikers Island produces far more mental illness than it prevents." He argued that treating individuals in healthcare settings is both compassionate and cost-effective compared to allowing them to remain on streets and subways.