All Quotes

What should Congress do, then? It should simply declare its intention to put an end to colonial rule in Puerto Rico.

All Americans believe in democracy. In Puerto Rico, we believe in democracy, and the only thing we want is the right to decide for ourselves our future in a level playing field.

As Governor of 4 million American citizens residing in Puerto Rico, what I pledged to do was to try to get Congress to actually sponsor a process--a balanced and fair process--so that the voters would be guaranteed that they had a fair…

Those of us in Puerto Rico who respect ourselves and believe in democracy and self-determination repudiate this hoax that perpetuates colonialism.

There is no more significant step in reaching that goal than drafting and ratifying our own constitution.

I must re-affirm the fundamental principle that the proposed constitution represents: the right of the people of the Virgin Islands to govern themselves.

Puerto Ricans--and I am sure I speak here for the great majority of our people--are sick and tired of the condescending and cavalier attitude of the U.S. Government.

Laws enacted by Congress often treat residents of Puerto Rico worse than their fellow citizens in the states.

Colonial rule, consented or not, constitutes a denial of the elementary principle of democracy which requires participation of the governed in determining the laws under which they live.

I hope this Committee, like the House before it, will show respect for the people of Puerto Rico by leveling with them about their real choices.

That's what binds this great country together, is the values we share. That's why we're proud to be Americans.

It is about time we hear from the people of Puerto Rico. That is my prayer to this committee.

The purpose of the bill is straightforward. What Congress is doing is authorizing the Government of Puerto Rico to conduct one or more plebiscites in which the people of Puerto Rico will be able to express their views regarding the…

Why does Congress need to act? Because there is a patently obvious need for the territory's real options to be clarified.

The sad truth is that, since joining the American family 112 years ago, my people have never had a meaningful voice in their national government.

We all know what Statehood means, and there are 50 successful examples of that. We all know what independence means, and we all know what the present territorial status means.

This bill will, at long last, give us that chance. What would be more right?

It was approved in a strong bipartisan vote at a time that we all know bipartisanship is in short supply.