Luis Fortuno

I strongly believe HR 2499 is the wrong way for Congress to address our political status issue since it does not signify a true, fair and democratic process of self determination.

First of all, on behalf of the 4 million American citizens that reside in Puerto Rico, but especially the men and women that have served in uniform in defense of democracy since 1917, I cannot put a price tag on their lives, I'm very sorry.

The defining element of free association in international law is that the parties be sovereign nations that remain sovereign.

What is wrong is to, after 112 years, have formerly American citizens residing under conditions that are so unequal to their counterparts in the mainland.

I want to commend you and thank you for standing up for the American citizens residing in Puerto Rico...

The voters must understand that what Commonwealth means, as the author of that amendment states to Pedro Pierluisi and I, is the present status quo, which is a territorial status.

I would respectfully pose to you that if the 'free beer and barbeque' option had been one of the options in Alaska, you would not have gotten a 2 to 1 margin.

What should Congress do, then? It should simply declare its intention to put an end to colonial rule in Puerto Rico.

All Americans believe in democracy. In Puerto Rico, we believe in democracy, and the only thing we want is the right to decide for ourselves our future in a level playing field.

As Governor of 4 million American citizens residing in Puerto Rico, what I pledged to do was to try to get Congress to actually sponsor a process--a balanced and fair process--so that the voters would be guaranteed that they had a fair…

Those of us in Puerto Rico who respect ourselves and believe in democracy and self-determination repudiate this hoax that perpetuates colonialism.

Puerto Ricans--and I am sure I speak here for the great majority of our people--are sick and tired of the condescending and cavalier attitude of the U.S. Government.

Colonial rule, consented or not, constitutes a denial of the elementary principle of democracy which requires participation of the governed in determining the laws under which they live.

I hope this Committee, like the House before it, will show respect for the people of Puerto Rico by leveling with them about their real choices.

That's what binds this great country together, is the values we share. That's why we're proud to be Americans.

Why does Congress need to act? Because there is a patently obvious need for the territory's real options to be clarified.

We all know what Statehood means, and there are 50 successful examples of that. We all know what independence means, and we all know what the present territorial status means.

This bill will, at long last, give us that chance. What would be more right?

I think that the issue of the status of Puerto Rico not only affects the lives of all Puerto Ricans...

Cynically entitled 'The Puerto Rican Democracy Act,' the bill purports to advance the principle of self-determination, yet it proposes the continuation of the colonial status of unincorporated territory.

H.R. 2499 would enable the preferences of Puerto Ricans, among the real status alternatives, to finally be ascertained.

In representation of the New Progressive Party, which achieved a landslide victory in the House and Senate elections in Puerto Rico in 2008, we wholeheartedly support the proposal of a Federally sanctioned self-determination process…

Congress must be responsive to the views of the people of Puerto Rico.

Perhaps 200 years ago it was something that could be worked out. Now, it is something that has to be resolved right away.

This will actually make sure that the voters will know and understand clearly what the options are.