If you really believe in democracy, justice, government by the consent of the governed, you must not hesitate any further or give any more excuses.

To pretend to continue a fruitless and pointless discussion by including independence or free association in a self-determination process, is a mockery of the democratic vote of Puerto Ricans.

53% is the absolute majority of the electorate; that with lesser margins laws are passed.

We have held a more than one referendum in which the majority of the people have voted, unequivocally for statehood.

I would like to get that opinion.

We have suffered enough.

H.R. 1522 is the bill that respects the will of Americans who voted for statehood.

The US citizens of Puerto Rico public must be heard!

We have an opportunity to rectify Puerto Rico's long-standing colonial status which has resulted in its people being treated as second-class citizens.

They got a whopping 97 percent. They did so good that they had to do a repeat 4 years later because no one thought--because not even Putin gets 97 percent of the vote.

We Puerto Ricans are not victims; we have borne the price of freedom in every war from World War One to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Statehood is what gives it to us while they diminish and undermine the rights of the LGBTQ community in Puerto Rico.

So, don't let anyone tell you that statehood will somehow diminish our cultural pride and heritage.

There hasn't been a free debate and discussion.

Absolutely not. Let's remember something. This was not part of the campaign in November.

That's why we must respect Puerto Rico's vote and support H.R. 1522. Because only statehood will guarantee full and permanent equality for the 3.2 million Americans on the Island.

There should be no territories in this country. We need to move this issue forward one way or another.

Gutierrez, Luis, Former Representative, Illinois' 4th District, Chicago, Illinois.

What got me into politics was the fight for the independence of Puerto Rico.

I ask you, what more does it take to make the will of my people be Heard?

Puerto Rico is a nation, a colonized nation, but a nation nonetheless.

The Statehood Party in Puerto Rico thinks it is fine to use the N-word.

The Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021 represents the only genuine democratic legislation about Puerto Rico's status before the 117th Congress.

The ousted and disgraced former governor Ricardo Rossello called former speaker of the New York City Council Melissa Mark Viverito a 'puta.'

Congress must grant us the equal rights and equal responsibilities that we have earned with the blood of our veterans and the tears of their mothers, wives, children and families.