"I have never expected to be presiding on this hearing, and be interviewing and making questions to my governor. It is quite an honor to be here to do that."
"Are you willing to sit with the new administration--remember, there is a new administration in place."
"The deal says there will be an increase to pay the debt and to pay the service."
"I would like to address the question to Mr. Bergonzi and Mr. Bryngelson."
"One thing. The Governor just said here that he was willing to sit and negotiate with good faith terms with all the stakeholders here."
"the most basic right in a democracy--the right to vote and to equal representation, and treats hundreds of thousands of Puerto Rican veterans as equal in war but not in peace."
"The plebiscite and some presidential and congressional actions since have made important strides towards resolution of the issue."
"The territory's status is the central issue of the islands, which have a population of nearly 3.7 million."
"Congress has unintentionally enabled a minority in Puerto Rico to confuse and frustrate a local decision among Puerto Rico's status options."
"It is fundamental: whether Puerto Ricans will continue to be Americans and obtain equality within the country or become the people of a separate nation."
"It is a basic issue of democracy, which requires representative government--a right we lack at the national government level."