We are proud American citizens. If you poll in Puerto Rico whether people want to continue having their American citizenship, it's going to be like 80 or 90 percent again.

The bill provides that the President shall submit an admission bill admitting Puerto Rico as a State within the period of 180 days.

a YES or NO plebiscite for statehood is to be held.

It is a basic issue of democracy, which requires representative government--a right we lack at the national government level.

It is fundamental: whether Puerto Ricans will continue to be Americans and obtain equality within the country or become the people of a separate nation.

There is consensus that territory status is the root cause of the economic problems that have persisted in Puerto Rico for at least 4 decades.

The plebiscite and some presidential and congressional actions since have made important strides towards resolution of the issue.

The territory's status is the central issue of the islands, which have a population of nearly 3.7 million.

You cannot detract yourself from the process. You have to be engaged.

Simply put, statehood, for American citizens, is the American way.

I think that's fairness.

It should come as no surprise, given our lack of political power, that the federal government often uses that license.

I have to protect the right of the pro-independence people to have their option on the ballot.

Puerto Rico cannot resolve its status by maintaining the same undemocratic status that my people have endured since 1898.

I'm not pro-statehood that will make Puerto Rico a Latino ghetto.

This is the most Democratic Nation in the world and you cannot ignore that vote. You need to respond to that vote.

No, I do not believe that that creates much confusion.

As a Puerto Rican, as a Hispanic American from Puerto Rico and as an American citizen, I feel outraged at the fact that the CRS report completely sidesteps the issue of discrimination against Hispanic Americans in Puerto Rico.