Now, looking at the future, what do you want Puerto Rico to be?

The 3.5 million U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico get it. That is why a 54 percent majority voted to end the current status in the plebiscite of 2012.

No matter what you may think or want to believe, we are in this together.

This Congress must address the issue and consider enacting a bill to provide for the admission of Puerto Rico as a state.

We are tired and increasingly upset to have to plead and beg for equal terms in Federal grants for education for our children.

Quality of life is deteriorating incredibly fast. I see a bright future for Puerto Rico, because of the potential, the capacity of our people.

Together, we will suffer the dislocations of uncontrollable migration.

I firmly believe the United States has to be part of the solution to Puerto Rico's economic and debt crises.

Not a single territory of the 37 admitted to the Union were deprived of equal economic opportunities and benefits for as long as we have.

My bill, which has 108 co-sponsors--including me, 109--basically has a two-step process.

I have no problem accepting our fault in the current crisis. But to pretend it is 100 percent our fault is incorrect and immoral.

We want to make sure that whatever the people vote on is something real, something possible.

statehood is a permanent status. It is a stable status which will be very attractive, in terms of attracting additional investment to the island.

The Supreme Court of the United States, ever since the beginning of the 20th century, decided that Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory.

This approach has broad support in Congress.

I strongly believe that there ought to be fiscal responsibility on the part of the territory.

Whether we demand equality or not, it is the Congress and the President's duty, as leaders of the world's greatest democracy, to put an end to this inequality and denial to participate in our Nation's democracy.

as long as Puerto Rico remains a territory--without equal treatment under Federal programs, forced to borrow heavily to make up the difference and without the ability to vote for the national leaders who regulate our economy--the island…