Roland Gutierrez: “Let us be clear. The gentleman is right. We are making the decisions because that is what is happening. Mr. Chairman, I…”

“Let us be clear. The gentleman is right. We are making the decisions because that is what is happening. Mr. Chairman, I rise to strongly oppose H.R. 856 because this is the exact opposite of what its supporters pretend it to be. H.R. 856 is supposed to be a bill for self-determination, not for statehood, which my friend from Rhode Island has every ability, he is for statehood. That is what he wants. If I were for statehood and I was willing to gamble everything for statehood, I would be for this bill because this is a guarantee that statehood is going to win the plebiscite. I can understand that. Let us be clear. Now I want to be clear about my position, also, Mr. Chairman. I am for independence for Puerto Rico. I am for independence for Puerto Rico. There was a time that the statehooders and the commonwealthers and the whole system would jail people like me for being for independence for Puerto Rico. That is why there are not more people for the independence of Puerto Rico. As they jailed the people of your former fatherland, Ireland, for wishing the independence and the sovereignty of that nation.”