Puerto Rico House holds special session to honor fathers, reads resolution citing law

The House of Representatives of Puerto Rico held a special session Thursday to honor fathers, reading a chamber resolution that cites Ley Núm. 356 (Dec. 23, 1999) designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day and recognizing the contributions of fathers across the island.

The ceremonial session, called to begin at 11:36 a.m. and adjourned at 12:40 p.m., included an invocation by Pastor Josué Carrillo, the reading of the congratulatory motion by the chamber spokesperson, and remarks from spokespeople for multiple party delegations who highlighted fatherhood, adoption, community service and the role of grandparents and foster parents.

“Se establece el tercer domingo del mes de junio como el día de los padres,” Portavoz Torres Zamora read while introducing the motion honoring fathers, which referenced Ley Núm. 356 del 23 de diciembre de 1999. The motion was ceremonial in nature; the transcript records the reading and recognition but does not record a roll-call vote.

Representative Denis Márquez Lebrón (Partido Independentista) and other delegation spokespeople used the floor to single out specific honorees and to place fatherhood in broader social terms. Márquez Lebrón recognized several invited fathers and recounted personal memories; he also addressed immigrant fathers, saying, “A ellos como caribeños y como puertorriqueño, mi abrazo y mi solidaridad,” while noting that some fathers will not be able to embrace their children this coming Sunday because of living conditions in camps described in his remarks.

Lis Janeth Burgos Muñiz (Project Dignidad) praised the session as an opportunity “to rescue the importance of papá in the life of the children, the family and the society,” and argued for reaffirming what she called a traditional view of masculinity and fatherhood in Puerto Rico. Edgardo Feliciano (Popular Democratic Party) and José Aponte Hernández (New Progressive Party) also spoke on behalf of their delegations, offering tributes to honorees and emphasizing parenting, community service and intergenerational caregiving.

The chamber highlighted multiple named honorees brought to the floor by representatives. Portavoz Torres Zamora and others introduced guests including Charlie Justino Lugo, whose personal story of recovery and caregiving was described in the floor remarks: according to the transcript, Lugo “es un paciente rehabilitado de Anska” and now works for the same organization and cares for a child under his guardianship.

The session was primarily ceremonial: it opened with a prayer, moved through the reading of the commemorative motion, included multiple short tributes by party spokespeople and representatives who named the invited fathers from their districts, and concluded with a group photo at the presidential dais. The record does not show any legislative debate or roll-call votes tied to the resolution.

The House adjourned the special session at 12:40 p.m. and reminded members that the regular session would begin at 1:00 p.m.