Pedro Pierluisi

It is about time we hear from the people of Puerto Rico. That is my prayer to this committee.

H.R. 2499, for the first time, will allow voters to choose directly with their vote.

I must re-affirm the fundamental principle that the proposed constitution represents: the right of the people of the Virgin Islands to govern themselves.

There is no more significant step in reaching that goal than drafting and ratifying our own constitution.

It is inconceivable that some 45 years since the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964... are denied to four million of our citizens.

Laws enacted by Congress often treat residents of Puerto Rico worse than their fellow citizens in the states.

The intervening months have only strengthened my conviction that the proposed constitution, despite its many flaws, must be returned to the people of the Virgin Islands for acceptance or rejection by referendum.

Puerto Ricans are proud Americans who suffer second-class citizenship that is not constitutionally-guaranteed.

The sad truth is that, since joining the American family 112 years ago, my people have never had a meaningful voice in their national government.

In listening to the gentleman from Illinois, I keep hearing that he wants Puerto Rico to become independent, that he sees Puerto Rico as a nation. So be it. That's a dignified status, and that is one of the options that this bill provides…

Notwithstanding their contributions, my people have never expressed their views in a fair process authorized by Congress as to whether Puerto Rico should remain a U.S. territory or seek a nonterritorial status. If the majority of the…

In the 21st century, shouldn't this Congress at least ask the people of Puerto Rico, the 4 million citizens living in Puerto Rico, whether they want to continue to be treated differently, different than their fellow citizens in the States…

As I have said many times before, I support statehood because I believe the people of Puerto Rico have earned that right, should they choose to exercise it, to become full and equal citizens of the United States. But this is not a…

The intention of H.R. 2499 is to sponsor a fair process of self-determination in Puerto Rico, not to predetermine the outcome of that process. I have to say, in the 21st century, it is about time that this Congress, at the very least, ask…

It is time for this Congress to hear from the people of Puerto Rico. A lot has been said about this process of self-determination. And what is self-determination? It is to allow the people of Puerto Rico to express their wishes on their…

The bill before us is a product of careful deliberation. We worked hard in reaching the right and correct balance in terms of determining who should be eligible to vote in the plebiscites provided for in the bill. Before reporting it, the…

The matters that are being raised in this motion are premature. They are irrelevant, actually, because all that H.R. 2499 does is to consult the people of Puerto Rico on the four available options that they have regarding our status--the…

I thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), and thank you for your eloquent explanation as to why H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act, is a fair bill, a necessary bill, and a bill that is long overdue. I'm also thankful for the…

I have heard here, and it is unfortunate, some colleagues talk about this being rigged, using terms of that nature. And I can take it because I know that this is a fair bill. Now I just heard that somehow we are opposing this amendment…

I am in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from New York. This amendment would replace the plebiscite process authorized by the bill with an entirely new process, including a runoff with a problematic none-of-the-above…

I rise so that the record will reflect the following point about the Medicare Advantage program and its application in Puerto Rico. For a variety of reasons, relatively few Medicare beneficiaries in Puerto Rico are enrolled in Part B. The…

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution recognizing National School Social Work Week.

I rise today to congratulate the Ohio State University Buckeyes football team for their victory in the 2010 NCAA Rose Bowl. On January 1, the Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference faced off against the Oregon Ducks from the Pac-10…

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1142, which congratulates Silver Lake College for 75 years of service as an undergraduate institution of higher education. Founded in the late 1800s by the Franciscan Sisters…

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…