[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 96 (Tuesday, July 16, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H4679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 395

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 23, 2002, the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo-Vila) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA. Mr. Speaker, later today the House will consider a 
resolution that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the ratification 
of the constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. I ask my 
colleagues to support this resolution, which enjoys the support of both 
the chairman, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), and the ranking 
member, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), of the Committee 
on Resources.
  The constitution of Puerto Rico established a republican form of 
government and provided for a broad bill of rights that followed both 
the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights and the Universal Declaration of 
the Rights of Man. This constitution also provided for the election of 
all members of the legislature of Puerto Rico by the free will of the 
people of Puerto Rico.
  The ratification of the constitution by the people of Puerto Rico is 
the most significant democratic achievement of the Puerto Rican people 
in the 20th century. This bipartisan resolution recognizes the historic 
event that came about 50 years ago through the principles of democracy. 
It is through these same principles that I stand before my colleagues 
as the only elected representative here in Congress of some 4 million 
Puerto Ricans and ask for your support of House Concurrent Resolution 
395.

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