Today, Governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia defended the legislative project seeking the admission of Puerto Rico as a state before the Natural Resources Committee of the federal House of Representatives.
During the congressional hearing, this project was discussed – also known as HR 1522 by congresswoman Darren Soto and resident commissioner Jenniffer González – and the HR 2070 project by congressmen Nydia Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
In his testimony, the governor defended the results obtained in the last general elections where the option in favor of the state prevailed with 52%.
In addition, he assured that the legislation does not oblige nor imposes the estadidad in Puerto Rico. “If the statehood is granted, the American citizens of Puerto Rico would have the same rights, responsibilities, full representation in the United States Congress and would be treated equally in all federal laws, policies and programs,” the chief executive argued. Pierluisi also argued that the status quo will allow Puerto Ricans to participate in the U.S. presidential election, as well as two senators and four representatives before Congress.
On the other hand, the governor described the legislation HR 2070, authored by Congressmen Velázquez and Ocasio Cortez, as one that ignores the results of the state consultation whether or not. He raised that the measure presents a bureaucratic process with no deadline to reach a solution and alleged that it includes options that Puerto Rican voters have already rejected.
During his speech, Pierluisi compared the status of the island with other instances in which Congress has had to define its position on civil rights conflicts.
“Today, we choose to be on the right side of history, defending the principles of democracy, fighting for equality and respecting the will of the people of Puerto Rico. The time for excuses – that Congress does not interfere, that no choice had a majority, or that Puerto Ricans needed consensus, members are out.Congress members can no longer hide behind support for self-determination because our people spoke with their vote and chose the state “And in a democracy, the majority wins,” the governor said.
He added that the project of Velázquez and Ocasio Cortez does not respond to the free determination of Puerto Rico, contrary to the provisions of the title of the legislation.
“The 2070 bill, ironically called the Puerto Rican Self-Determination Act and is the furthest from this self-determination. It is an example of colonialism. It not only ignores the vote of Puerto Rican citizens, but tries to tell the Puerto Ricans have the right process by which they have to decide their status. This is not free determination, this is an imposition, “he said.
“The legislation they are proposing is also not binding, which means that after the island goes through the complex process proposed by the measure, Congress can endorse or reject the option the people choose,” he added.