Jenniffer González-Colón and Rear Admiral Peter Brown visit textile manufacturing company in Toa Alta

Toa Alta, Puerto Rico –Last week, Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón (PR-AL), Rear Admiral Peter Brown, President Trump's Special Representative for Puerto Rico's Disaster Recovery, and Juan Caro, White House Public Policy Advisor, visited the LS Quilting factory on the first day of the White House delegation's visit to the Island.

LS Quilting manufactures a variety of bedding products, such as bedspreads, sheets, pillows, cushions, among others, and fibers for air conditioning filters.

"The textile industry was a main component of Puerto Rico's manufacturing sectors. Recently, this industry has resurfaced and continues to grow. We are visiting one of the main textile factories on the Island because one of the purposes of this visit is precisely to evaluate our assets and promote the economic development of Puerto Rico. During the pandemic, the industrial textile manufacturing sector was crucial to assist and produce necessary equipment for workers in the health care field," said Rep. González-Colón.

The textile industry in Puerto Rico adjusted its operation systems in response to the emergency brought by COVID-19. This allowed them to produce masks, gowns, gloves, among other essential equipment for health care personnel. Several textile companies, like for example SNC Technical Services, are suppliers of uniforms and military equipment to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

With 41 employees, LS Quilting, a Puerto Rican company founded in 1987, supplied materials to other factories on the Island so they could produce medical equipment. They currently nonwoven fabrics as part of their inventory of raw materials for bedding. This material was not available in other factories and the company later sold it to other manufacturers for making masks. To date, LS Quilting has cut approximately half a million masks.

Previously, in 2017, the congresswoman visited South Korea as part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation to strengthen the commercial alliance between the United States and South Korea. During the trip, she discussed issues related to multiple conglomerates with opportunities to do business in Puerto Rico, highlighting specialized areas such as pharmaceuticals, technology, textiles, among others. This trip, together with the most recent visit of Rear Admiral Brown ensures that Puerto Rico receives proper international and domestic recognition for its economic potential.

"Since the day I was sworn as Puerto Rico's representative in Congress, I have focused on establishing relationships to promote the Island as an investment destination because I firmly believe in the potential of our hard-working people. I recognize the financial opportunities and capabilities that our Island has through the different economic sectors, such as the manufacturing and textile industry. I am pleased that this visit builds up on previous efforts to showcase the amazing work produced in Puerto Rico, especially during these times of need," said González-Colón.