| 110th Congress Status Legislation Update: Feb 9, 2007
Bipartisan Puerto Rico Status Legislation Re-Introduced in House of Representatives
With the support of more than 60 Democrat and Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives, non-voting delegate of the Puerto Rican people to the U.S. Congress, Luis Fortuno and Democrat Jose Serrano (New York) re-introduced the Puerto Rico Democracy Act to the 110th Congress on February 7th. Serrano has been a vigorous defender of the right of Puerto Ricans to self-determination in the U.S. Congress. Serrano is the highest-ranking Puerto Rican in the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.
The legislation, H.R. 900, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007 reflects the recommendations made in the White House Report on the the Status of Puerto Rico, which recommends a 2-part process; The first step is authorize a democratic vote by Puerto Ricans to choose between continuing of the current unrepresentative territorial status without full democratic representation and equal citizenship rights or a sovereign option. If Puerto Ricans vote to end the territorial status, the second stage would call for Puerto Ricans to vote for one of the sovereignty options, independence as a foreign country, full statehood with full rights and representation or Free Association where the US Congress or Puerto Rico government can decide to end the relationship at any time without consultation or agreement from the other .
Pro-statehood groups like the U.S. Council for Puerto Rico Statehood seek to ensure full rights of sovereignty, full representation in the United States Congress and equality of citizenship for the almost 4 million Puerto Ricans residing on the island, on a par with residents of the 50 states. Fortuno, Serrano and others introduced the Puerto Rico Democracy Act in the 109th Congress. The House measure was mirrored by bi-partisan Senate legislation introduced by Senators Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Ken Salazar (D-CO). The legislation had strong bi-partisan support in both the House and Senate before the 109th Congress expired.
The Resident Commissioner declared " the bi-partisan support for the project confirms that resolving the status issue for Puerto Rico knows no party nor color. My commitment is to defend the rights of the almost 4 million Puerto Ricans to obtain the same rights that any other citizen enjoyes in the 50 states"
Fortuno, who introduced the legislation on the same day that the House Committee for Natural Resources first met formally for the 110th Congress, figures among important leaders in both the Democratic and Republican parties that support the legislation. Original sponsors include Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Don Young (R-AK) Chairman and Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee; House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Roy Blunt (R-MO) House Minority Spokesperson and Eric Cantor (R-VA) Alternate House Minority spokesperson. The legislation is also supported by Adam Putnam (R-FL) Chairman of the important Republican Conference, Thaddus McCotter (R-MI) Chairman of the Republican Public Policy Committee and Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
To view the full list of co-sponsors click here.
To identify your congressman please visit http://www.prstatehood.org/what-you-can-do/contacts.asp
|
