Ley 158 del 2001
Resumen
Esta ley enmienda la Ley Núm. 184 de 3 de septiembre de 1996 para nombrar el Programa de Internado Legislativo con el nombre de Jorge Alberto Ramos Comas, en reconocimiento a su labor en favor del pueblo puertorriqueño.
Contenido
(Note 158)
(Approved November 13, 2001)
AN ACT
To amend Section 1 of Act No. 184 of September 3, 1996, to designate the Legislative Internship Program with the name of Jorge Alberto Ramos Comas, in recognition of his exemplary work in favor of the Puerto Rican people.
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
Jorge Alberto Ramos Comas has undoubtedly become one of the most respected leaders in Puerto Rico. Since he was very young, and nurtured by his father's example, he became involved in public service, being greatly influenced in his life by political leader Angel Casto-Pérez. He began his proselytizing career when selected President of the Young Friends of CastoPérez, showing from the beginning his great interest in our culture. This lead him to form a movement to establish the Historic Zone in San Germán, as a measure directed to preserve the Cultural Patrimony of the centenary City of San Germán.
Ramos Comas entered the Pontificia Universidad Católica of Puerto Rico from which he graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Science. Afterwards, he worked as librarian in the Second Unit, Federico Degetau School of Barrio Hoconuco of San Germán, were he founded a rural newspaper through which he disclosed the happenings of the school plant, and was recognized by the then Department of Education.
Subsequently, he became part of the work force of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewers Authority, where he became aware of the problems affecting the people. The results- from his academic studies as well as from his work experience- are what drive him to enter the Puerto Rican political arena. It is then that he decides to run for Representative of the House for the Popular Democratic Party, representing the municipalities of the western region, becoming the youngest Representative elect of that time.
His interest in the development of the governments of first instance led him to preside, at the Ibero-American level, the First Symposium on ecology and the Municipalities, representing the Ibero-American Organization of Intermunicipal Cooperation in Central America. His knowledge and experience in municipal administration take him to preside and lecture in Argentina, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico and Venezuela. He was also a writer and columnist in different newspapers of the Island and was a key figure in the creation of the new law to reform the municipalities of the island, directed to granting them a greater degree of autonomy.
Some of his outstanding works as legislator are the following, among others: appropriation of funds for the construction of the Arquelio Torres Ramírez court of San Germán; Hogares Crea de Puerto Rico, construction of the Laura Mercado School of Poblado Rosario, and schools in Cabo Rojo. He also fostered projects in benefit of recreational areas, Playita Rosada in Lajas and El Combate in Cabo Rojo, as well as the construction of Nueva Salamanca Urbanization of San Germán and Manuel F. Rossi Public Housing Project.
After four years in the House of Representatives, he ran for the office of Mayor of the town of San Germán, becoming the First Executive of the
Ciudad de las Lomas in 1980, with the support of the masses. History repeated itself in the following three elections.
His work as Mayor can be seen and felt in all corners of this historic city. Among his many projects, we can point out the construction of the Arquelio Torres Coliseum, the Children's Park in San Germán, the San Germán Ciudad Fundadora de Pueblos Park, La Galería Histórica Sangermeña, el Paseo de la Mujer Puertorriqueña, the construction of the New Town Hall, the New Public Cars Terminal, among many others.
He later became Senator of the Mayagüez-Aguadilla District. It is from this High Body that Ramos-Comas continued to work untiringly and fight to benefit causes in each one of the towns of the western area, honoring his slogan "El Oeste Primero."
On August 20, 2000, scarcely a few months before his reelection as Senator for the Mayagüez-Aguadilla District, and in full political campaign, he was overcome by death. His passing was mourned by all of Puerto Rico, especially by his beloved town of San Germán. His memory shall live on through his legacy as a Mayor and Legislator who served his country well and honestly.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.- Section 1 of Act No. 184 of September 3, 1996, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 1.- The Jorge Alberto Ramos-Comas Legislative Internship Program is hereby established in the Legislature of Puerto Rico. It shall be directed and administered by the Joint Committee created in Section 2 of this Act.
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Section 3.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 158 (S.B. 751) of the $2^{ ext {nd }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Section 1 of Act No. 184 of September 3, 1996, to designate the Legislative Internship Program with the name of Jorge Alberto Ramos Comas, in recognition of his exemplary work in favor of the Puerto Rican people, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $15^{ ext {th }}$ of December of 2004.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director