Patrick Kennedy: “the fact is that if everyone is so insulted by this process, I hear the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) and…”

“the fact is that if everyone is so insulted by this process, I hear the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) say, ``I don't like this process because they shut out a political party in Puerto Rico.'' Let us understand what they are shutting out, although it is not the case, I will argue. But let us just assume that we are shutting out the PDP, the Populares in Puerto Rico. What do they want? They want the commonwealth status. What is the commonwealth status? It is colonial status. It is saying that this Congress can decide unilaterally, without Puerto Rico's opinion or approval, what we want Puerto Rico to do. End of story, I say to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon). So when you talk about how we are being unfair, think about it. We are being unfair because we do not like commonwealth. You bet I do not like commonwealth. I do not like the fact that 3.8 million people are disenfranchised, 3.8 million United States citizens who fought in our wars, who died in our wars are not even allowed to vote for their Commander in Chief. Can you imagine? This country was founded, at the Boston tea party we declared our Revolutionary War, because we did not have representation here. That is what they do not have. Puerto Ricans cannot decide this bill. The gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo) has no vote. He represents 3.8 million United States citizens.”