[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 2, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H830-H831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AMERICAN CITIZENS OF PUERTO RICO AND THE TERRITORIES MUST BE RECOGNIZED 
                               AS EQUALS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo) 
is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, I am sure that many of you saw the 
article ``Talking About a Revolution'' in Roll Call yesterday. The 
article highlighted the 45th anniversary of the attack perpetrated by a 
group of terrorists on the U.S. House of Representatives on March 1, 
1954. Just like Russell Weston, Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols and 
others, the terrorists in the 1954 attack were also American citizens.
  In commemorating such an anniversary, I wish that the same 
consideration to detail was provided on other issues concerning Puerto 
Rico. In our society it seems that it is the negative that consumes our 
attention, and it is a shame that this terrorist and cowardly act 
continues to be resurfaced without ever mentioning that the 
perpetrators were part of a small Fascist party then existing in Puerto 
Rico.
  The article did not choose to highlight also that today, March 2, is 
the 82nd anniversary of the day when all Puerto Ricans and those born 
in Puerto Rico thereafter became U.S. citizens through an act of 
Congress and that it is also the 100th anniversary of the founding of 
the Puerto Rico regiment of volunteers which later became the 65th 
Infantry Army regiment, one of the most decorated U.S. Army units of 
this century. Thus, 100 years ago today, our predecessors in this U.S. 
Congress were discussing the issue of Puerto Rico and voted on and 
approved the organization of the first body of troops on the territory 
which they called the Porto Rico Regiment of Voluntary Infantry, 18 
years before we were granted citizenship. We have been equals in war 
and death, but we are discriminated against in peace and life.
  Our rights to liberty and free speech are intrinsic rights of our 
democracy that have been defended since our Nation's inception. As 
troops from the United States have fought to ensure and maintain 
freedom and democratic values everywhere and anywhere that has been 
needed in this world in this century, 197,034 soldiers hailing from 
Puerto Rico have fought shoulder to shoulder with our fellow citizens 
from every other State.
  When we consider the century that binds us together, it is clear that 
the interrelationship between the United States and its citizens in 
Puerto Rico is most evidenced in our participation in defense of 
democracy. Military leaders such as General Douglas MacArthur, the 
supreme commander for the allied power during the Korean War, described 
it best:
  ``The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry on 
the battlefields of Korea by valor, determination and a resolute will 
to victory give daily testament of their invincible loyalty to the 
United States and the fervor of their devotion to those immutable 
standards of human relations to which the Americans and Puerto Ricans 
are in common dedicated. They are writing a brilliant record of 
achievement in battle, and I am proud indeed to have them in this 
command. I wish that we may have many more men like them.''
  It is unquestionable that every one of the 197,034 soldiers who have 
served in the U.S. Armed Forces take the responsibility as U.S. 
citizens very seriously, willing to give their lives for American 
democratic values. But their sacrifice would not have been possible 
without the patriotism and honor to duty evidenced by the support of 
their families

[[Page H831]]

and all other American citizens in Puerto Rico. Who in my generation in 
America does not know the story of the Sullivan brothers in the Second 
World War? But how many Americans know that during the Korean War Mrs. 
Asuncion Rodriguez Acosta from the town of Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, was 
the only American mother who had five sons serving in the Korean front 
at the same time?
  Despite this brilliant record of gallantry and courage, the policy of 
the U.S. Government sets apart its 4 million American citizens in 
Puerto Rico and the territories. We are good enough to defend democracy 
throughout the world, but we are not good enough to have the same 
rights, nor good enough to receive the same benefits as all other 
American citizens in the 50 States. Are our sacrifices worth any less 
by virtue of living in a territory?
  The bottom line is, can the United States continue to support a 
policy of discrimination in the Federal programs that are designed to 
protect our Nation's most needed citizens, be it in health, housing and 
economic prosperity?
  A superficial mention of the terrorist attack dated 45 years ago only 
detracts attention from the real issues and should not be allowed to 
take the place of the in-depth discussions that the Nation should now 
be engaged in, including how and when to eliminate discrimination.
  I urge you, Mr. Speaker, and I urge all of my colleagues to take the 
necessary steps to ensure that American citizens of Puerto Rico and the 
territories be recognized as equals and that we be granted equal 
consideration in all Federal programs together with our fellow citizens 
in the 50 States. Not only have we earned that right, but not to do so 
violates the most basic tenets of our democratic system which is based 
on the principle of equal rights to all. We cannot focus our attention 
on what a terrorist chooses to do and ignore the responsibility of 
Congress to direct a stop to discrimination. We must focus in our 
commitment to and the defense of our cherished American values.

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