[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 85 (Thursday, June 29, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PUERTO RICO AND THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 28, 2000

  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, today I speak about an 
important development that I strongly support to enable Puerto Rico to 
have the chance to choose their future status through a fully 
democratic process.
  As we all know, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States 
in 1898 as a consequence of the Spanish-American War. Since then, the 
Federal Government has never formally consulted the disenfranchised 
American citizens of Puerto Rico on the Island's political status. Over 
a hundred years have passed and Puerto Rico's permanent status has yet 
to be determined. In addition, the American citizens residing in Puerto 
Rico have no vote in the government that determines their national 
laws.
  While almost all other American citizens are given a democratic means 
of expressing themselves through two Senators and representation in the 
House of Representatives, the American citizens residing in Puerto Rico 
lack voting congressional representation, and their voices are 
essentially left unheard.
  Three local inconclusive referenda (1967, 1993 and 1998) have been 
held in Puerto Rico with regard to the Island's political status. 
However, the major flaw of these local processes was that local 
political parties were allowed to submit their own political status 
definitions, a situation not consistent with Federal law.
  Mr. Speaker, one thing we did learn from the 1998 local referenda 
held in Puerto Rico was that over fifty percent of voters cast their 
ballot for an option that read ``none of the above.'' This had the 
effect of providing, at best, an ambiguous result and no clear basis 
upon which to continue the process of ensuring that the governing 
arrangement enjoys consensus. But more tellingly, and more importantly, 
the vast majority of the voters, over 95 percent, did not support the 
status quo.
  Much of Puerto Rico's status debate concerns what the Federal 
Government would implement. To that end, President Clinton invited the 
leaders of Puerto Rico's three major political parties, the Governor, 
our Colleague Carlos Romero-Barcelo, and the Chairmen and Ranking 
Members of the House Resources Committee and the Senate Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources, to an unprecedented summit at the White 
House on Wednesday, June 28, 2000.
  The purpose of this summit is to further the work of the federal 
Executive and Legislative branches of govemment to begin a process. 
This process would clarify the options available regarding the goveming 
arrangement that should apply to Puerto Rico, consistent with the 
Constitution and International law. This process will also define how 
federal economic and social policies should apply to the Island.
  President Clinton has specified that he has no status preference, but 
that he is committed to agreeing on a process that will enable the 
American citizens of Puerto Rico to make an informed judgement.
  Fellow Colleagues, the Congress has been committed to the Self-
Detertnination process in Puerto Rico, as well as to providing a 
constructive response to the 1998 referenda held on the territory. We 
can all agree that the bipartisan nature of the White House meeting 
will provide a foundation upon which to consider a process to resolve 
fundamental questions regarding Puerto Rico's relationship with the 
Federal Govemment.
  If it is appropriate for the President to help resolve disputes in 
the Middle East, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, is it not in the interest 
of our Nation to focus our efforts on the future of a territory of the 
United States and the four million Hispanic Americans that reside 
there?
  Mr. Speaker, I urge you to support our fellow American citizens in 
Puerto Rico in order to enable them to choose a viable option. I urge 
you to support this effort and the decisions that may result from this 
summit.

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