Robert Torricelli: “I, too, rise in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, noting that there could be no better way to note the importance…”

“I, too, rise in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, noting that there could be no better way to note the importance of our Hispanic heritage and this month of observance than to deal with the reality of the political status of Puerto Rico. In 1841, President Harrison said, "The only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed." Those words were deemed so important to our Republic, so basic to our system of government, they became a part of the architecture of the Capitol itself. The history of our country is about the expansion of democracy and the enfranchisement of people. The very purpose for founding this Nation was to ensure that our people would have control over their own destiny and choose their own Government. Through the generations, this maturation process has included the enfranchisement of women, African-Americans, and eventually to all people over the age of 18. The democratic process was probably never better exercised or no firmer commitment made than when this Congress established an orderly procedure to admit new States.”