|
 |
|
|
|
Hearings are held in San Juan on "U.S. Puerto Rico Political Status Act" Party leaders, Elected officials and Members of the Public to Testify at Congressional Hearings April 19, 1997
The House Committee on Resources will hold hearings this weekend on H.R. 856, the United States - Puerto Rico Political Status Act. The bi-partisan legislation would provide a framework for a three stage process for the resolution of the political status of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The hearings, which will be held in San Juan and Mayaguez, will include testimony from leaders of Puerto Rico's political parties, elected officials and members of the public. The hearing on April 19 will be held today at the "Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré" beginning at 10.a.m. The hearing on April 21st will be held on the campus of the University of Mayaguez also beginning at 10:00 a.m. Don Young (R-AK), Chairman of the Committee on Resources said that, "Because of the importance of this legislation to the people of Puerto Rico, I have decided to greatly expand the witness testimony in both San Juan and Mayaguez". He also stated that each Puerto Rico Political Party Leader had been invited to testify as well as the elected Party Leaders in the Puerto Rico Legislature. In some instances the Party Leaders and/or elected official designated people to testify on their behalf. In each instance, Young said, the designee was invited by the Committee to participate in the hearing. Young's bi-partisan legislation (H.R. 856) will provide the framework for a three-stage process for the resolution of the political status of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Under the new legislation, the three alternatives for Puerto Rico would be: There are over 80 co-sponsors of the bi-partisan legislation including Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA), House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX), Chief Deputy Democratic Whip John Lewis (D-GA) and Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner Carlos Romero-Barcelo (D-PR). Available Testimonies of the Hearings San Juan Witness List (April 19th) Mayaguez Witness List (April 21st) See Related Commentary... "Key Players in the Status Arena"
|
