WASHINGTON - Bernie Sanders confirmed yesterday, via his wife, that he would return to the Senate at the end of the presidential primaries, with enough time to promote his initiatives regarding the financial crisis in Puerto Rico and to try to block the enforcement of a Federal Oversight Board.

“He plans on being back and fighting the bill (H.R.5278),” said Jane Sanders, as spokesperson of his presidential campaign.

With a doctorate in social work, Jane Sanders advises her husband on his campaign for the Democrat presidential primaries, and has helped him draft legislations.

On Sunday, Clinton and Bernie Sanders will face off in Puerto Rico, where they seek to secure most of the 60 delegates that are up for grabs, in order to go to the Democratic National Convention.

Due to the support of superdelegates (elected officials and state leaders), Clinton is on the brink of securing the commitment from the 2,383 delegates required to win the Democratic presidential nomination. CNN's tally says she's got 2,311.

But if we only count delegates earned in electoral events, Clinton's advantage is merely 269, and there's still Puerto Rico, six events on Tuesday (with about 700 delegates up for grabs, including 474 in California), and Washington, D.C. (20 delegates) on the 14th. 

In a phone interview, the wife of the Senator for Vermont confirmed his intention to bring his candidacy and agenda, including subjects on Puerto Rico, all the way to the national convention in Philadelphia, PA in July. 

Dr. Sanders insisted that superdelegates should have the full results of the primary process in their hands and take into account the polls—which place the senator of Vermont as the strongest candidate against Republican Donald Trump—before making a final decision.

“Hillary Clinton kept her name up for nomination (in the 2008 convention). He believes it is extremely important that people have the chance to express their preference at the convention. Bernie hopes to win the majority of the delegates in the next two weeks and show the Democratic convention that his momentum remains strong,” added the wife of the presidential pre-candidate.

When he returns to the Senate, Sanders has plans to submit legislation to urge the Federal Reserve to intervene in the island’s fiscal crisis. He considers it “absurd” that a Federal Oversight Board, comprised of people who are “outside Puerto Rico,” will make final decisions on the island's finances and budget.

“At the very least, Puerto Rico needs the protection granted by Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, but much more needs to be done. This is why he has asked the Federal Reserve to use their emergency authority to provide fair restructuring and low-cost financing for Puerto Rico to grow its economy, create jobs, and reduce poverty,” stated Dr. Sanders.

Jane Sanders pointed out that “if the Federal Reserve moved heaven and earth in 2008 to supply $16 trillion to the big banks and corporations, they can be as creative in helping alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico as they were helping Wall Street.”

The Vermont senator has sought to strike a contrast with Clinton regarding the fiscal crisis and the support for the immediate release of political prisoner Oscar López Rivera, whose case the former Secretary of State believes should be “reviewed.”

Senator Sanders's wife also highlighted her husband's plan to offer health insurance to all citizens by expanding on the Medicare program, and defended the idea of public universities offering students free tuition.

Jane Sanders, who has presided over university institutions, said they are aware that the government's fiscal crisis affects the University of Puerto Rico (UPR). 

“Free tuition in public universities has to be part of the plan. The federal government would fund that part," Dr. Sanders explained.

With five representatives in the Democratic Party's Platform Committee, Sanders hopes to change the fact that election platforms are ignored.

Although she ruled out that the Senator could return and campaign on the island this week, Dr. Sanders assured that during the nearly 48 hours they spent in Puerto Rico, “we saw wonderful stories of resilience and a lot of people who are working hard against the wave” of the fiscal crisis.