Pedro Pierluisi: “I support health care reform, but I do not support the proposal put forward by the White House, because it mistreats 4.4…”

“I support health care reform, but I do not support the proposal put forward by the White House, because it mistreats 4.4 million Americans living in Puerto Rico and the other U.S. territories. They are treated like second-class citizens. My loyalty to my party and to our President is beyond question, but my principles and my people come first. This proposal violates my principles, and it mistreats my people. In Puerto Rico, the Federal Government pays less than 25 percent of the cost of providing Medicaid services. That is a national travesty. The House took important steps to mitigate this disparity in funding. Yet the White House proposal does not make a good-faith effort to address this inequality. Moreover, the proposal excludes Puerto Rico from the exchange but allows noncitizen residents of the States to participate. This is discrimination, and it is no way to treat one's fellow Americans. I do not believe this proposal reflects the President's thinking, and I cannot believe my colleagues will allow it to stand. The people of Puerto Rico and the other territories fight proudly for their country. Their country should fight for them, too.”