All Quotes

It is inconceivable that some 45 years since the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964... are denied to four million of our citizens.

I think that the issue of the status of Puerto Rico not only affects the lives of all Puerto Ricans...

Cynically entitled 'The Puerto Rican Democracy Act,' the bill purports to advance the principle of self-determination, yet it proposes the continuation of the colonial status of unincorporated territory.

H.R. 2499 would enable the preferences of Puerto Ricans, among the real status alternatives, to finally be ascertained.

The intention of H.R. 2499 is to sponsor a fair process of self-determination in Puerto Rico, not to predetermine the outcome of that process. I have to say, in the 21st century, it is about time that this Congress, at the very least, ask…

As I have said many times before, I support statehood because I believe the people of Puerto Rico have earned that right, should they choose to exercise it, to become full and equal citizens of the United States. But this is not a…

In the 21st century, shouldn't this Congress at least ask the people of Puerto Rico, the 4 million citizens living in Puerto Rico, whether they want to continue to be treated differently, different than their fellow citizens in the States…

Notwithstanding their contributions, my people have never expressed their views in a fair process authorized by Congress as to whether Puerto Rico should remain a U.S. territory or seek a nonterritorial status. If the majority of the…

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution recognizing National School Social Work Week.

We want to continue the status quo, we want to continue in the commonwealth, or we want to move to another option.

I think the option is not a constitutional assembly. To write what constitution?

We want something to happen, and the first step to make that decision will reside in the people of Puerto Rico.

The ballot results will speak for themselves.

The real consensus here is that many of those people who don't want the people of Puerto Rico to have a real vote to decide our future want us and want this Committee to continue the delay of that purpose

I am describing statehood. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is just the language used.

Do we need consensus to grant civil rights? Do we need consensus to grant a vote? Do we need consensus to enable democracy? Of course not.

There is a quote from Lyndon Johnson that said that voting is the first duty of democracy.

That is the real issue here, civil rights, and we demand to vote.