José Aponte Hernández

José F. Aponte Hernández was re-elected as a Representative to the House of Representatives in November 2012, marking his fourth term in the Legislative Assembly. During the 15th Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, he served as Speaker of the House. Among the key legislation he promoted was the new Law of Economic Incentives for the Development of Puerto Rico, which replaced the 1998 Tax Incentives Law. He also championed the Law of Economic Incentives for Small Businesses to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), amendments to the Agricultural Incentives Law, and Law 117 of 2008, which promotes government purchasing of products made by companies employing individuals who are blind or have severe disabilities. His legislative record includes initiatives for government reform, such as Fiscal Reform, the creation of the Special Incentive Fund for Cruise Ships, and the establishment of the Porta del Sol tourist destination. He co-sponsored legislation for the Air Incentive Program for charter flights to Rafael Hernández Airport and authored laws to manage government debt and limit the use of credit cards in the government. Under his leadership, the House of Representatives launched public service campaigns focused on mental health, suicide prevention, and the cessation of celebratory gunfire. Aponte Hernández has championed legislation in health, education, the environment, and social welfare, including the Dr. Cruz A. Matos scholarship for graduate studies in environmental protection, the Isamar Malaret scholarship for special education, and the law for the development of free internet access centers. In health, he established a special commission on mental health, promoted insurance coverage for mental health conditions, created an aid program for compulsive gamblers, and established a registry for individuals with Diabetes Mellitus. In social welfare, he successfully pushed for legislation requiring the installation of family-assisted restrooms in public and commercial facilities. He began his public service career in 1984 at the Right to Work Administration. In 1993, he became the Undersecretary of the New Progressive Party (PNP) and later served as its interim Secretary General and subsequently Secretary General. He began his legislative service in 2000, representing District 33 before becoming an At-Large Representative in 2005. Throughout his career, he has been a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and a member of the Robert Thompson Leadership Academy of the Council of State Governments.