Congress has authorized each state government to permit its insolvent municipalities to adjust their debts under Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code, but has not authorized Puerto Rico to do so.

Puerto Rico has been denied these tools far too long, and as long as our options are defined by the powers of this Congress, we will always be at your mercy.

You have the power to help Puerto Rico now; exercise it! You have the moral obligation to end the trite pilgrimage of Puerto Ricans looking for the status question to be resolved; move forward.

Yes, the permanent solution to Puerto Rico's economic problems, social problems, is equal rights, is equality.

Puerto Ricans have only me, a Resident Commissioner. I can debate, I can speak, but I cannot vote on the Floor--and I represent 3.5 million American citizens.

the current status is not working as a platform for Puerto Rico's economic development, for our quality of life.

I believe that we need to sit down and come up with a new economic arrangement.

The real question before Congress is therefore what will you do to bring about a resolution to Puerto Rico's undemocratic political subordination?

Colonialism is the problem, not the solution.

No country, no state, no jurisdiction has gotten out of a crisis like ours without a bankruptcy law, a central bank intervention or help from outside.

introduced legislation that would amend the U.S. Bankruptcy Code's definition of 'State' to include Puerto Rico for purposes of Chapter 9.

It is high time that we reach a consensus on a path forward for Puerto Rico to permanently resolve their political status.

Yes, we must stop begging for equality and demand it loud and clear and belligerently, if need be.

Puerto Rican Americans have more than earned their right to equal participation in our Nation's democratic process.

Mr. Chairman, the citizens of Puerto Rico are outraged by these shameful tax benefits given to a few hundred millionaires, while the rest of us have been subject to multiple tax increases by the present Administration in the last 3 years.

H.R. 727 would authorize a federally-sponsored vote to be held in Puerto Rico by the end of 2017, with a ballot containing a single question: 'Shall Puerto Rico be admitted as a state of the United States'?

So, why am I proposing an up-or-down vote on the admission of Puerto Rico as a state? Simple. In 2012, a majority of the people of Puerto Rico, 54 percent, rejected the current status.

Puerto Rico's full potential for economic success and job creation will not be realized until economic uncertainty generated by the island's unresolved political status is replaced by stability.