Florida Senate - 2021 (NP) SR 1694 By Senator Torres 15-01765-21 20211694__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing the friendship between 3 Florida and Puerto Rico. 4 5 WHEREAS, the people of Puerto Rico and Florida have common 6 historical and political ties, and 7 WHEREAS, Florida was founded and discovered by Puerto Rican 8 Governor Juan Ponce de León, and 9 WHEREAS, the Spanish Province of Florida was linked by 10 Spanish rule to the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico at the time 11 of its cession to the United States in 1819, and 12 WHEREAS, the governments of Puerto Rico and Florida have a 13 strong friendship, as demonstrated in 2017 when Florida helped 14 Puerto Rico rebuild after Hurricane Maria and again in 2018 when 15 Puerto Rico reciprocated by sending aid to Florida after 16 Hurricane Michael, and 17 WHEREAS, these common ties and strong friendship bind and 18 unite the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 19 NOW, THEREFORE, 20 21 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 22 23 That the Florida Senate recognizes that there is a 24 relationship of friendship and brotherhood between our state and 25 the Commonwealth and people of Puerto Rico, expresses its 26 gratitude for their assistance in recovery efforts after natural 27 disasters have occurred, and expresses its wish that the 28 friendship continue to prosper.