[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6591]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          VIEQUES, PUERTO RICO

  (Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA. Mr. Speaker, I am here to reaffirm the commitment 
of the Government of Puerto Rico to find a solution to the situation in 
Vieques. While we work toward that end, I must bring to your attention 
recent unfortunate events. The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) 
was more than one of 150 protestors who committed the misdemeanor 
offense of trespassing on Federal lands. Some 72 hours after being 
arrested, our colleague was still detained. This after being denied a 
phone call for more than 24 hours and having spent a night on a rock 
strewn floor of an abandoned roofless dog kennel in the rain. I am 
outraged by the treatment of the detainees by Federal authorities and 
the use of excessive force against peaceful protestors.
  I must address those who have used the issue of Vieques to call into 
question Puerto Rican commitment to the defense of this great Nation 
and the principles it represents. For over 100 years, Puerto Ricans 
have served with distinction and paid the ultimate sacrifice for the 
United States during war time. I quote Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul 
Wolfowitz, who said last week, ``The patriotism of Puerto Ricans is 
absolutely certain. Their contribution to our military individually is 
extraordinary.'' With the same spirit that Puerto Rican soldiers have 
defended democracy and justice around the world, today we defend the 
rise of the more than 9,000 U.S. citizens that live in Vieques.
  Vieques is not a partisan issue. It is no longer a Puerto Rican 
issue. Vieques is an issue of health, environment, and human rights. 
Paz para Vieques.

                          ____________________