Representative José Aponte Hernández - Contact Information

José F. Aponte Hernández was re-elected Representative to the House of Representatives in November 2012, this being his fourth four-year term in the Legislative Assembly.

During the Fifteenth Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico he served as President of the House of Representatives. Among the most important Bills that he promoted are the new Law of Economic Incentives for the Development of Puerto Rico, achieved in consensus with the public and private sectors of the Island, which replaced the previous Law of Contributory Incentives of 1998 and which is It can be considered the most important piece of legislation of the four-year period from the point of view of what it represents for our economic development.

Along these same lines, Aponte Hernández, together with the Majority Delegation, filed the Law of Economic Incentives for Small Businesses, which provides the necessary incentives to promote the development of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). He also promoted amendments to the Agricultural Incentives Law to increase the group of people who can benefit under this legislation. Aponte Hernández also promoted the creation of Law 117 of 2008, to include as part of the preferential purchasing policy of the Government of Puerto Rico those products created by companies that employ blind people or people with severe disabilities.

As part of the government reform proposals, he promoted the Tax Reform, to reduce government expenses; the creation of the Special Cruise Ship Incentive Fund, attached to the Tourism Company and the creation of the Porta del Sol Tourist Destination, in the western region of the Island. Likewise, it co-sponsored the legislation that established the Air Incentive Program for Charter Flights to the Rafael Hernández Airport, in Aguadilla, to promote the development of the western area of Puerto Rico.

In addition, he promoted the creation of the Pressing Interest Fund to establish a financial structure to pay and refinance the extraconstitutional debt of the Government of Puerto Rico. Likewise, he is responsible for the Law that Limits the use of Credit Cards in the Government of Puerto Rico as a measure of healthy tax administration.

Under his mandate, the House of Representatives carried out the public service campaign called “Talk it, Don’t Swallow the Problem”, which has meant an extraordinary initiative to guide citizens on the proper management of depression and personal problems, as a strategy designed to help prevent suicide. Another important public service campaign developed under his Presidency was the so-called “Let’s Raise Our Hands to Pray, not to Shoot”, to avoid shots in the air during the Christmas festivities.

Aponte Hernández has promoted very important legislation in the areas of health, education, environment and social well-being. Among the projects that he filed and that became new laws in the environmental area, is the House of Representatives Scholarship for Graduate Studies in Disciplines Related to the Protection and Conservation of the Environment, Dr. Cruz A. Matos and the creation of the Special Commission on Global Warming and Security.

He also promoted the creation of the Isamar Malaret Scholarship for students at the graduate and post-graduate level in the area of Special Education. Together with the Novoprogressive Delegation, he promoted the Law for the Development of Free Internet Access Centers, which will benefit the residents of all the municipalities of the Island.

In the field of health, it created the Special Commission on Mental Health and also promoted amendments to the Mental Health Law, to ensure coverage of medical plans for the treatment of mental health conditions. Likewise, he promoted the Law that establishes the Assistance Program for Compulsive Gamblers in Puerto Rico. He also established a Registry of People with Diabetes Mellitus in the Department of Health.

In the social welfare environment, it promoted for several four-year periods, until finally seeing a project become law that requires shopping centers, ports, airports, government centers, sports centers and public spas to establish assisted or “family” bathrooms. In addition, he managed to get the Government to transfer physical facilities to a non-profit entity to develop a Service Center for young adults with significant cognitive impairments.

José Aponte Hernández began his work as a public servant in 1984, in the Right to Work Administration. The following year he began working in the House of Representatives as Executive Assistant to the then Representative to the House for District number 33, his brother, Mr. Néstor Aponte.

In 1993 he began another professional facet in political affairs, when he was appointed Undersecretary of the New Progressive Party. For a time he simultaneously held the functions of Finance Director of that group.

In October 1996 he was appointed interim Secretary General of his community, until February 1997, when he was appointed Secretary General and the appointment made by the President of the Party and Governor, Dr. Pedro Rosselló, was ratified unanimously by the members. of the Party Board of Directors. He held that position until June 30, 1999, when he decided to return to public service.

He began his Legislative functions in 2000, when he filled the vacancy that arose after the resignation of Representative Néstor Aponte, at the time he was appointed as Judge of the Circuit Court of Appeals. At that time he represented District number 33, made up of the municipalities of San Lorenzo, Juncos, Las Piedras and Gurabo. He has been Representative for Accumulation since 2005.

The youngest of 6 siblings was born in San Juan on January 19, 1958 and received from his parents, Carlos M. Aponte (RIP) and Néstar M. Hernández an education focused on the highest moral values and virtues of character, which inspired him to develop their vocation and commitment to serving others.

He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, from which he graduated in 1980, obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. In that same year he established his private office as a Public Accountant. Later he held a management position in a hardware store chain and later ventured into a family business, as a gasoline retailer. He belongs to the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), where due to his career in demanding Human Equality, he was appointed member of the National Civil Rights Commission. In addition, he stood out as a member of the “Robert Thompson Leadership Academy” of the Council of State Governments (CSG).

Married to Dr. Aida Ivys Rodríguez Roig, professor at the University of Puerto Rico, he is the father of José Fernando, Adriana Milagros and Alan Marco. Together with his wife, children and grandchildren, he shares the hobby of enjoying his free time with his family. Among his favorite hobbies are planting and growing orchids and fruit trees and motorcycling.