Robert Torricelli: “I want to first express my congratulations to Senator Murkowski without whose efforts in committee we would not, today…”

“I want to first express my congratulations to Senator Murkowski without whose efforts in committee we would not, today, be discussing this resolution; Senator Graham of Florida, who has labored for so long on this cause; Senator Daschle; Senator Landrieu; Senator D'Amato; Senator Craig; so many Members of this institution who have taken the cause and interests of the people of Puerto Rico and made them their own. There are few more solemn responsibilities to come to the Congress of the United States than the issue of admission into this great Union. It is solemn because to join in union is to share a future, to pledge our fortunes, our lives, together. It is a serious occasion because the prospect of joining this Union raises the prospect of 'forever,' because this Union is indivisible, it is permanent. The judgment to join this Union is made by any peoples and any lands but once in their history, and it is never revisited again. For 100 years, the people of Puerto Rico and these United States have shared a common history. Our people have fought together, bled together, and died together. Our cultures over a period of time increasingly have merged. Hundreds of thousands, indeed, millions, of people of Puerto Rico have chosen to live among other Americans in these United States.…”