[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 9, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H1022-H1023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         AMERICA MUST STAND AS ONE NATION IN THE NEW MILLENIUM

  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.

[[Page H1023]]

  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, as I stand before the House today, 
America enjoys a period of unparalleled prosperity and peace. Our 
country is strong, and life is good for most Americans. Unemployment is 
at one of the lowest rates ever. Education is a reality for everyone, 
and the possibility of higher education is more achievable than ever. 
For once, in our halls, we are debating how to spend a surplus instead 
of cutting and retrenching Federal programs.
  These are heady times, and we stand at the eve of the millennium with 
hopeful hearts. As the new century approaches, we realize that 
divisions are blurring and that there is more that brings us together 
as Americans and even as citizens of the world. The principles 
proclaimed by the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution 
continue to shine forth through the test of time, and our democracy is 
a shining beacon throughout the world. It is now the perfect time to 
reflect deeply into our future and ponder where do we want our Nation 
to go and what do we want our Nation to become in the years ahead.
  There is immense potential for our Nation to grow and boundless 
opportunities for each of us to reach our potential. We are blessed 
with peace and stand as citizens of the most powerful, most advanced 
Nation in the world. It is indeed a privilege to be an American. That 
privilege also entails deep responsibilities and allegiance to the 
principles of freedom and liberty for which we pledge our own lives.
  There is one injustice that besmirches our Nation's final reputation 
as the utmost defender of freedom, liberty, and quality. The 3.8 
million citizens of Puerto Rico, as well as the nearly 200,000 citizens 
of the other four territories, have pledged their lives, just like the 
rest of their fellow citizens in the 50 States, to the cause of 
freedom. However, the sad truth is that throughout the century we have 
been sent to the front to protect the rights and freedoms of people who 
had more rights in our own country than we have.
  Imagine, Mr. Speaker, that those who struggle alongside their fellow 
citizens to enable their country to fulfill its destiny do not enjoy 
the same rights nor the same benefits as any other citizen in the 50 
States. How can this be possible? How has our Nation enabled this 
discrimination to continue unchecked?
  Some say that the issue of the 4 million U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico 
and the territories is not on their radar screens this year or even in 
this Congress. If there is a war, I am certain we would be on their 
radar screens. Everyone knows that more U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico 
have served on the front than residents of many other States. This 
duplicitous standard of equal in danger and war but unequal in times of 
peace and prosperity must not and cannot continue to be tolerated, Mr. 
Speaker.
  I call on my colleagues in Congress to eliminate the ignorance and 
the indifference that discriminates against the most needy of our 
society, the children, the aged, the disadvantaged, the handicapped, by 
virtue of living in a territory.

                              {time}  1045

  Mr. Speaker, I urge Congress to take the necessary steps to prevent 
this neglect and discrimination by enabling their equal participation 
in the most fundamental safety net programs that can make the 
difference for their future health and well-being, just as it does for 
all other elderly, disabled and needy children in any of the 50 States.
  Mr. Speaker, if equality must be demanded in order to be achieved, 
then I am demanding it. How can some American citizens be less equal 
than others merely because they live in a territory and not in a State? 
Have those of us who live in a territory not proven our patriotism and 
our loyalty during this century? Can we afford to continue to ignore 
and trample the right to equality in our Nation?
  Our Nation fights against injustices throughout the world, but in our 
own house it promotes unequal policies and programs that adversely 
affect the lives of its own citizens. Our Nation looks to invest in the 
future. What could be better than ensuring that all of our citizens 
enjoy the same rights and privileges? In the millennium let us truly 
stand as one Nation.
  The U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico have a stake in this, our country, 
and have earned the right to be treated equally with our fellow 
citizens in the 50 States. I am calling on the wise stewardship of the 
leaders of this Congress to ensure that when the new century dawns, all 
Americans are truly equal and equally enjoy not only peace but also our 
Nation's economic prosperity.

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