I appear before you as Governor of Puerto Rico. As you know, I am also President of the New Progressive Party, which advocates statehood as a final solution for the island's more than a century old status issue.

I want to commend both of you for your leadership in bringing forward the discussion of this fundamental issue of American democracy.

Congress has never formally consulted us about our preferences regarding the island's political status.

I want to thank former Chairman Don Young, who has done as much as any member of this body to seek self-determination for the people of Puerto Rico.

It is time for Congress to provide the people of Puerto Rico with an unambiguous path toward permanently resolving its political status.

The Popular Democratic Party believes in a political association with dignity, not colonial or territorial, between Puerto Rico and the United States.

We are Puerto Ricans first. Second, sovereignty. Sovereignty is the right of the people to choose.

The ballot results will speak for themselves.

I see that both of you are concerned with the fact that the bill doesn't specify or describe the current status as territorial, as a territory, as what it is.

This strong bipartisan support is proof positive that Puerto Rico's status dilemma troubles men and women of conscience all along the political spectrum.

I support statehood, because I believe the people of Puerto Rico have earned the right, should they choose to exercise it, to become full and equal citizens of the United States.

The issue is 'and has always been--how far does the Southern border of the U.S. extend into Latin America and the Caribbean.'

However, we propose that H.R. 2499 be amended to incorporate more precise and clear definitions of the alternatives to be submitted to the voters, such as those contained in H.R. 900, filed by Congressman Jose Serrano and Luis Fortuno, by…

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

In representation of the New Progressive Party, which achieved a landslide victory in the House and Senate elections in Puerto Rico in 2008, we wholeheartedly support the proposal of a Federally sanctioned self-determination process…

That is morally wrong in the 21st century.

asking makes all the difference in the world.

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