Roland Gutierrez: “I will close by making the following arguments. I think they have not been refuted here today. In a book written in…”

“I will close by making the following arguments. I think they have not been refuted here today. In a book written in 1978, Statehood is for the Poor, written and authored by the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo), he stated clearly and unequivocally that language and culture are nonnegotiable. Now, when the campaign goes to Puerto Rico, I want to make sure that if that is what they are saying to the people of Puerto Rico, that that is what this Congress is guaranteeing them. Let us not let them be under any illusions about what is going to be. Since that is exactly what has been proposed by the Statehood Party and repeated so many times, I want those statehooders who have applauded, who have cheered, who have cherished statehood and want to preserve their language and culture, to have exactly what they have demanded and asked and rallied for. So, therefore, in the name of self-determination, I ask that this amendment be adopted so that we respect the wishes of the Statehood Party. We should do no less.”