| 110th Congress Status Legislation Update: Feb 16, 2007
Momentum Builds With More Co-Sponsors for Puerto Rico Status Legislation in the New Congress
As of February 16th, 2007, twelve more members of the House have signed on as co-sponsors of the Puerto Rico status legislation, H.R. 900, The Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007. The legislation was first introduced last year during the 109th Congress. It was re-introduced in the 110th on February 7th, 2007 by New York congressman Jose Serrano and the non-voting Puerto Rico delegate to the U.S. Congress, Luis Fortuno. These additional co-sponsors bring the number of supporters to 95; comprising 46 Republicans and 49 Democrats, indicating strong bi-partisan support.
The new co-sponsors include Republicans Greg Walden (Oregon), Mike Pence (Indiana), John Peterson (Pennsylvania), Gus Bilirakis (Florida), Kenny Merchant (Texas) y Mike Conaway (Texas). Among the Democrats are Michael Arcuri (New York), Brian Higgins (New York), Gregory Meeks (New York), Robert Cramer (Alabama), Kendrick Meek (Florida) and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee John Conyers (Michigan).
Fortuņo has attributed the strong, early and clearly bi-partisan support for the legislation to the realization by House members that H.R. 900, The Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007 is the only Puerto Rico status legislation that will allow for a direct and therefore, fully democratic vote by Puerto Ricans.
The successful legislation will ensure that Puerto Ricans have the opportunity to democratically decide by direct vote whether to continue as a territory of the United States with no representation in Congress or instead choose a sovereign option with full rights to equality and representation. Sovereign options include, a fully represented State of the union; Independence as a separate, foreign country; or Free Association, where the United States or Puerto Rico governments can end the relationship without the agreement of the other at any time.
The U.S. Council for Puerto Rico Statehood urges supporters of Statehood for Puerto Rico to contact their House and Senate representatives to urge and thank them for their support for Statehood for Puerto Rico. The opportunity to vote for sovereignty by Puerto Ricans is a step towards the equal democratic representation in the U.S. Congress and equality of citizenship rights that only Statehood for Puerto Rico can bring.
To identify your congressman please visit http://www.prstatehood.org/what-you-can-do/contacts.asp
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