[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 513]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             STRENGTH OF THE PUERTO RICO STATEHOOD MOVEMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Puerto Rico (Mr. Pierluisi) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, last week I spoke about Puerto Rico's 
mission to discard its status as a U.S. territory and to become a U.S. 
State. Today, I rise to inform my colleagues about the most recent 
phase of this mission.
  A brief word of background. Puerto Rico has been a territory since 
1898. Its status is incompatible with the principles this Nation 
strives to uphold at home and promotes abroad. There are 3.6 million 
American citizens in Puerto Rico. My constituents cherish their U.S. 
citizenship and have made countless contributions to this country in 
law, science, business, government, the arts, the armed services, and 
every other field of human endeavor. Yet they cannot vote for 
President, have no U.S. Senators, and send one Delegate to the House 
who has a voice but no vote in this Chamber.
  The people of Puerto Rico, beyond lacking democratic rights, are 
deprived of equality under law. Congress has a license to discriminate 
against the territories, and Puerto Rico is treated worse than the 
States under a range of Federal programs. To compensate for the 
shortfall in Federal funding, the Puerto Rican government has borrowed 
heavily in order to provide adequate public services. This disparate 
treatment is the principal reason why Puerto Rico has endured severe 
economic problems for decades.
  Inequality, both political and economic, is driving thousands of my 
constituents to depart for the States every month. It is human nature 
to go where you believe you can secure a better future for yourself and 
your family. However, residents of Puerto Rico have finally said enough 
is enough. They demand a status that is democratic and dignified, a 
proud status for a proud people.
  In a referendum organized by the local government in 2012, voters in 
Puerto Rico rejected territory status and expressed a clear preference 
for statehood. In response, Congress provided an appropriation of $2.5 
million to fund the first federally sponsored vote in Puerto Rico's 
history, with the clear goal of resolving the territory's status. This 
is the most significant step the Federal Government has ever taken to 
settle the status debate in Puerto Rico.
  I have proposed that the funding be used to hold a federally 
sponsored ``yes'' or ``no'' vote on whether Puerto Rico should be 
admitted as a State. Some have complained that Puerto Rico has already 
voted for statehood and should not have to vote again. This argument is 
based on a fundamental misunderstanding of history and how Washington 
works. After expressing a strong desire for statehood in local 
referenda, the territories of Alaska and Hawaii each held federally 
sponsored ``yes'' or ``no'' votes on admission that led to statehood. 
If Puerto Rico wants to become a State, it must do the same.
  My proposal has broad congressional support, since a bill I filed 
last Congress that endorsed this approach obtained 131 cosponsors and 
led to the filing of an identical Senate bill. My proposal also has 
significant local support. Yesterday, in a remarkable display of unity 
and resolve, all 22 members of the statehood delegation in the Puerto 
Rico house and all eight members of the statehood delegation in the 
Puerto Rico Senate introduced identical bills that proposed to use the 
appropriation from Congress to conduct a federally sponsored vote on 
Puerto Rico's admission as a State. Now all that remains is for Puerto 
Rico's Governor, speaker of the house, and senate president--each a 
defender of the failed status quo--to show some courage and schedule 
this vote. Real leaders do not fear the democratic process or its 
results.
  Meanwhile, statehood forces continue our forward march, expanding in 
size and strength. Indeed, today statehood supporters are rallying 
outside the White House and are holding meetings here in Congress. In 
the coming weeks and months, our advocacy efforts will only intensify. 
As individuals, our ability to effect change is inherently limited, but 
as a united movement, we are as strong as steel. We are fighting for 
equality, and we will not stop until we achieve it.

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