[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 16, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PUERTO RICAN CITIZENS

  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. Madam Speaker, I rise this morning with a heavy 
heart. While I congratulate my colleagues for the fine manner in which 
they debated the deployment of American troops to Kosovo on the floor, 
I must also point out a great injustice in our American democratic 
system.
  Last Thursday, throughout the discussion on the floor, precisely at 
this podium where I now stand, what my esteemed colleagues debated was 
the reaffirmation of the Congress' power as the sovereign 
representative body of all Americans.
  On a bipartisan level, the debate reflected important concerns about 
the authority that Congress exercises on the issues that affect our 
Nation and our standing in the world. It is to this House's great 
credit and a decision that in my estimation marks a significant turning 
point in Congressional relations that my colleagues overcame party 
differences and acted in unison to enable our troops to join NATO 
forces in Kosovo.
  The deployment of American troops to any conflict is an issue of 
critical importance to all Americans. It is critical not only for the 
soldier who is the individual facing the greatest danger and may be 
called upon to sacrifice his or her life, but also for every one of the 
American families, the wives and husbands, parents, and children, or 
even the friends.
  In short, it is critical for all who will sacrifice the companionship 
of their loved ones, who will be sent to a faraway place to defend 
liberty and freedom according to the best interests of our Nation.
  I have the deepest admiration for our troops who place themselves in 
harm's way and do so willingly, because they commit their lives to our 
Nation in defense of democracy. This is what patriotism is all about. 
From the depths of my heart, I salute our troops for their commitment 
to their fellow citizens and our Nation and ask God to protect them and 
bless them wherever they are.
  Throughout the debate of the House, I feel deeply troubled by the 
fact that, in all likelihood, the troops to be deployed to Kosovo will 
include many American citizens from Puerto Rico and yet I, as their 
sole representative in the Congress of the United States, was unable to 
vote in the decision that could place their lives in peril.
  How is it possible that the Nation that acts as the supreme defender 
of freedom, liberty, and rights everywhere in the world maintains a 
policy that does not extend those rights to all of its citizens? The 
ugly reality is that some of the soldiers who defend our American 
democracy do not possess the right to vote by virtue of living in a 
territory.
  To me, it is tragically clear that what the United States is telling 
these soldiers is that, yes, you must place your life on the line to 
defend American values. Yes, you must go to a foreign country as a 
member of the peacekeeping troops. Yes, you must fight, if called to 
fight, and you may even die, but, no, your opinion does not count 
because the Congressman that represents you cannot exert the right to 
vote that may place your life in harm's way.
  Last Thursday, I heard many of my colleagues affirm the Congress' 
power as the sovereign representative of the body of all Americans and 
was saddened that this representation is not equal for all Americans.
  It is not a proud moment for our country when we muzzle American 
citizens and hold them in abeyance. After all, is this not the reason 
our troops are going over there? How come we continue to ask them to 
defend rights that they themselves do not possess despite a century of 
partnership and 83 years of American citizenship?
  Can we as a democratic nation afford to continue to support 
discrimination, disenfranchisement against the 3.8 million Americans in 
Puerto Rico? The American soldiers from Puerto Rico and their loved 
ones commit their lives to the cause of freedom and democracy as 
willingly and patriotically as any one of their fellow citizens in the 
50 States. Should we not affirm their full rights in Congress?
  Madam Speaker, I call on all of my colleagues to join us in our quest 
to eliminate disenfranchisement and discrimination against the American 
citizens in Puerto Rico. No less is possible and no less can be 
expected from our democracy.

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