José E. Serrano: “I rise with utmost respect for my colleagues and with some sadness in my heart because I rise in opposition to this…”

“I rise with utmost respect for my colleagues and with some sadness in my heart because I rise in opposition to this resolution. I do so because in our profession, perception is a strong weapon. And the perception of this weapon or the result will be that we are in fact celebrating the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States. While that relationship has had some wonderful moments, it has never stopped, in my opinion, being a colonial relationship, in fact. I do not think the Congress should at this moment or at any other moment celebrate and encourage continued colonial relationships. Now, why do I believe that Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States? Because while citizenship has been granted since 1917, the same rights as other American citizens have not been granted to the American citizens who live in Puerto Rico. I often startle some of my colleagues by reminding them that if any of us were to move back to Puerto Rico right now, we could not serve in Congress with a vote, we could not vote for Members of Congress, we could not vote for the President, or have full representation. Yet our citizenship supposedly would stay intact. I find it very difficult to do what I am doing, but I think it needs to be done so we can continue once and for all to discuss this issue and bring it to the front of the political discussion in this country.”