Jenniffer González-Colón promotes discussion between ambassadors and congressmen on the relations between Spain and the United States
Washington, DC - Seeking to reinforce the existing ties between the United States and Spain, resident commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón, co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus, held a round table with ambassadors and congressmen where she opened the work to discuss security issues, economy and culture between both nations.
"The United States and Spain share a historical past, Puerto Rico being a link between both of us because of our cultural heritage and our political present. The commercial relationship translates into over a thousand US firms in Spain and over 83,000 jobs in the US generated by Spanish companies. Spain becomes the home of 28,000 students, annually, with American nationality who choose their universities to carry out exchanges. Diplomatic and international security relations are solid, with the US having two military bases on Spanish soil. In short, this relationship between both nations can be extended and must be preserved, and for this we call this round table, "said the commissioner.
The visit this week of King Felipe and Queen Leticia to the United States to commemorate the 300 years of foundation of San Antonio by the Spanish and 300 years of the founding of the city of New Orleans, which although of French origin became possession Spanish, marked the preamble of this activity.
The discussion was attended by the United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and the Principality of Andorra, Richard Duke Buchan III ("Duke"), the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the United States, Mr. Pedro Morenés Eulate; and the co-president of the Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus, Joseph Kennedy of Massachusetts.
Also present were Florida congressman Francis Rooney, who was ambassador of the United States to the Vatican and is the vice president of the Committee on Foreign Relations; Pete Sessions of Texas, Chairman of the Rules Committee; Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, member of the Energy and Commerce Committee; and Ed Royce of California and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee
González Colón served as moderator of the event, asking questions about security cooperation between both nations, especially regarding international terrorism; He asked how Spain overcame the economic crisis of 2008; which ambassadors understood to be the biggest trade obstacles; among others.
The Friends of Spain Congressional Caucus was created in the 109th Congress, by the then resident commissioner Luis Fortuño and the representative Xavier Becerra of California. The caucus is made up of legislators from both parties, with a shared vision of maintaining and strengthening bilateral relations between the United States and Spain, focusing on issues of common interest such as trade, defense, security and culture.