Luis Fortuno: “What the House really needs to do for the almost 4 million citizens that I represent before the Senate, the executive…”

“What the House really needs to do for the almost 4 million citizens that I represent before the Senate, the executive branch, as well as the House, is to authorize a process of self-determination for Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since 1898, and we still to this day remain disenfranchised. Puerto Rican Americans have been citizens since 1917, and we have served with distinction and valor in our Armed Forces and have defended our Nation in every battlefield around the world. I will say that 18,000 served in World War I. Over 65,000 served in World War II, and I must say, the oldest surviving veteran of that war was my constituent, Mr. Emiliano Mercado, who died today of natural causes at the tender age of 115 years. More than 48,000 Puerto Rican Americans served in Vietnam; 430 of them were killed and 3,000 were wounded. Close to 2,600 Puerto Rican National Guard volunteers and U.S. Army Reserve soldiers mobilized for Desert Storm. So far, I have lost 56 constituents in the global war on terror.”