NYC Gazette

Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who has been representing New York’s 7th district in the U.S. Congress since 1993, recently shared her concerns through a series of tweets. She addressed significant issues regarding energy policies in Puerto Rico and a court decision affecting an individual named Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

On April 10, 2025, Rep. Velazquez expressed her advocacy for distributed solar energy, stating that it "saves lives," while pointing out the current administration's promotion of fossil fuels in Puerto Rico. She emphasized the urgency as "hurricane season" approaches and mentioned her request to the DOE to secure "$1B set aside for solar panels" specifically for vulnerable communities dependent on electricity for medical devices. "Distributed solar saves lives. But the Trump admin continues to push fossil fuels in Puerto Rico."

In a subsequent tweet on the same day, posted in Spanish, Rep. Velazquez reiterated her position against the "administración Trump" and stressed the necessity for the DOE to preserve the allocated funds for solar projects targeting susceptible populations. "La energía solar distribuida salva vidas. Pero la administración Trump sigue impulsando los combustibles fósiles en Puerto Rico."

On April 11, 2025, Rep. Velazquez responded to a unanimous court decision regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, affirming that he "should have never been torn from his family and his community." She urged prompt action to "bring him back," emphasizing the court's decisive ruling. "Kilmar Abrego Garcia should have never been torn from his family and his community."

Nydia Velázquez, born in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, has dedicated a significant portion of her life to public service, earning her BA from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, in 1974, and currently residing in Brooklyn. Her career began when she succeeded Stephen Solarz and brought her perspective and advocacy to the U.S. Congress representing New York’s 7th district.

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