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.

H.R. 2499 creates 'an artificial majority for statehood' because the territorial 'Commonwealth' option is, or was not competing directly with the other options.

The proposed constitution is not merely a legal document; it is, however flawed, a symbol of the Virgin Islands' right to self-determination.

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…

H.R. 2499 is a bill about democracy, as the title suggests. It deals with the right of self-determination, and Congress doing the right thing.

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

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

H.R. 2499, for the first time, will allow voters to choose directly with their vote.

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

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

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

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

The intervening months have only strengthened my conviction that the proposed constitution, despite its many flaws, must be returned to the people of the Virgin Islands for acceptance or rejection by referendum.

Puerto Ricans are proud Americans who suffer second-class citizenship that is not constitutionally-guaranteed.

In listening to the gentleman from Illinois, I keep hearing that he wants Puerto Rico to become independent, that he sees Puerto Rico as a nation. So be it. That's a dignified status, and that is one of the options that this bill provides…

The matters that are being raised in this motion are premature. They are irrelevant, actually, because all that H.R. 2499 does is to consult the people of Puerto Rico on the four available options that they have regarding our status--the…

I thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), and thank you for your eloquent explanation as to why H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act, is a fair bill, a necessary bill, and a bill that is long overdue. I'm also thankful for the…

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…