Angie Craig: “This important bill establishes a process whereby the people of Puerto Rico can vote for a retention or a change of…”

“This important bill establishes a process whereby the people of Puerto Rico can vote for a retention or a change of their current Commonwealth status, a status preserved as a result of the November 14, 1993 plebiscite. If Puerto Ricans choose change, they can select a path toward separation--independence or free association--or a path toward incorporation--statehood. In short, the bill establishes an orderly path toward true self-determination in the true democratic spirit of our Nation. One might ask why such legislation is necessary given that less than 3 years ago, a plurality of U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico chose the Commonwealth option on the November 14 ballot. This option--drafted by the Commonwealth party itself, under the agreed-upon terms of the plebiscite--presented the people of Puerto Rico with utterly inflated and unrealistic expectations regarding the island's future relationship with the United States. In effect, the Commonwealth option guaranteed United States citizens of Puerto Rico many of the benefits of statehood and many of the benefits of separation without any of the accompanying responsibilities of either.”