[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 25, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE FUTURE AMERICAN FLAG WILL HAVE 51 STARS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Myrick). 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, when the House of Representatives 
debated legislation on Puerto Rico's self-determination, opponents 
argued that Puerto Ricans had a different culture, too alien from the 
rest of the Nation to become a partner.
  But they were wrong. The ones that are not mainstream are those that 
subscribe to a nativist mindset. Have they listened to the radio? Have 
they watched a ballgame? Have they checked out who is doing art for the 
Treasury Department, or have they read Time Magazine lately?
  Last week's cover of Time featured Puerto Rican pop star Ricky 
Martin, who boasts the number one song in America. The same article 
highlighted two other Puerto Rican pop culture success stories, 
vocalists Mark Anthony and actress-singer Jennifer Lopez.
  Last year, baseball's American League recognized Puerto Rican Juan 
``Igor'' Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers as its most valuable player, and 
11-year-old Laura Hernandez from Puerto Rico is this year's First Place 
National Winner of the United States Savings Bond Poster Contest.
  Right here next to Washington, D.C., in the Goddard Space Center, 
there are over 40 engineers and scientists who have come from Puerto 
Rico. They graduated from MIT; not Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology, but the Mayaguez Institute of Technology.
  Time's May 24th cover story states, ``We have seen the future. It 
looks like Ricky Martin. It sings like Mark Anthony. It dances like 
Jennifer Lopez. Que bueno.'' I, too, have seen the future, and I saw 
our flag with 51 stars. Que bueno.

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