TAMPA, Fla. — A new initiative is making it easier for Florida’s Puerto Rican community to obtain essential government documents.

What You Need To Know

  • Rep. Susan Valdes announces initiative to help Puerto Ricans obtain essential documents

  • The office is located at 2221 N Himes Ave. in Tampa

  • To schedule an appointment, click here

On Friday, Tampa Rep. Susan Valdes held a news conference about those efforts in partnership with the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration.

Valdes explained why it was necessary, noting that Florida is home to a large Puerto Rican population. She believes this effort will help meet the demand from people like Rosemary Matos.

Thirteen years ago was the last time Matos visited her birth place of Puerto Rico.

“It was nice to experience it, to know where I was born and meet my family," she said.

Photos capture her last visit. She was moved to Chicago at 3 years old and recently made the move to Florida.

But she soon faced a problem while trying to renew her driver’s license.

“When I went to the DMV, I tried to renew it and when I gave them my birth certificate, they told me my birth certificate wasn’t valid," Matos said.

It’s how she ended up at Rep. Valdes’ office.

Matos is one of many people facing similar issues. That’s what led to the establishment of a new initiative in partnership with the Puerto Rico Federal Affair Administration to help Puerto Ricans obtain important documents like birth, death and marriage certificates more efficiently.

Valdes says the only permanent office to help with these documents is in Kissimmee, a two-plus hour drive from where Matos lives.

It’s frustrating to her because she doesn’t have a driver’s license to get there.

“I broke down in tears because I was going through a hassle going back and forth trying to get my birth certificate just so I could obtain my driver’s license," she said.

To ease that burden now residents just need to bring their personal documentation and fill out paperwork.

Matos said she’s grateful.

“The process was quick. I received it in less than five minutes, I’m very happy and I have a piece of mind now,” she said.

The office of representative Valdes says their goal is to eventually open a permanent location in the Tampa Bay area.

The office is located at Valdes’ office and will be open once a month. To schedule an appointment, click here.