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ORAL TESTIMONY OF THE HONORABLE CHARLES A. RODRIGUEZ, PRESIDENT OF THE PUERTO RICO SENATE, BEFORE THE HOUSE RESOURCES COMMITTEE ON H.R. 856
" UNITED STATES-PUERTO RICO POLITICAL STATUS ACT " SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO APRIL 19, 1997
CHAIRMAN YOUNG, RANKING DEMOCRAT GEORGE MILLER, CONGRESSMAN ROMERO BARCELO, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE RESOURCES COMMITTEE. ON BEHALF OF GOVERNOR PEDRO J. ROSSELLO AND OUR 3.7 MILLION U.S. CITIZENS, BIENVENIDOS A PUERTO RICO! WELCOME TO PUERTO RICO! TODAY I COME BEFORE YOU WEARING TWO HATS: REPRESENTING THE NEW PROGRESSIVE PARTY OF WHICH THE GOVERNOR IS PRESIDENT, AND AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE PUERTO RICO SENATE. IN BOTH CAPACITIES I SUPPORT THE COMMITTEE'S TIRELESS EFFORTS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, IN THE EXERCISE OF ITS RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE CONSTITUTION'S TERRITORIAL CLAUSE, TOWARD CRAFTING FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT WILL FINALLY OFFER PUERTO RICANS, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE RIGHT TO FREELY DETERMINE THEIR POLITICAL STATUS AND TO RESOLVE OUR CENTURY OLD POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES UNDER A CONGRESSIONALLY SPONSORED PLEBISCITE. WE HAVE TALKED LONG ENOUGH IN PUERTO RICO ABOUT OUR POLITICAL STATUS. WE HAVE TALKED FOR A HUNDRED YEARS. IT IS TIME NOW TO ACT AND TO FIND OUT HOW STRONG IS THE CREED OF EQUALITY, DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND PLURALISM OF OUR NATION, ONCE THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO IS HEARD IN THE PROPOSED 1998 PLEBISCITE. TODAY I WANT TO MAKE THREE ESSENTIAL POINTS. FIRST, THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY OF THE STATUS OPTIONS OFFERED IN THE 1998 PLEBISCITE MUST NOT BE COMPROMISED. THESE OPTIONS MUST REFLECT WHAT IS CONSTITUTIONALLY ATTAINABLE WITHIN THE POWERS OF CONGRESS UNDER THE TERRITORIAL CLAUSE. THEY MUST HONESTLY DESCRIBE TO THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO WHAT IS LEGALLY POSSIBLE, NOT WHAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION, IMPRACTICAL ECONOMICALLY OR POLITICALLY, OR SUBJECT TO FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS. THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THESE EVENTS AND THEY ARE EXPECTING A CLEAR AND PRECISE MESSAGE FROM CONGRESS OF WHAT MAY CONSTITUTIONALLY BE OFFERED IN THE DEFINITIONS OF THE THREE COMPETING FORMULAS. FOR THESE REASONS THE COMMITTEE SHOULD ADOPT, IN THEIR ENTIRETY, THE THREE STATUS OPTION DEFINITIONS AS SET FORTH IN THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION. CONGRESS MUST STATE WITH CLARITY THAT U.S CITIZENSHIP CANNOT EXIST IN A STATUS FORMULA WITH SOVEREIGN POWERS. SECOND, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE PROCESS YOU HAVE DEVELOPED, TO PROVIDE FOR FULL SELF-GOVERNMENT FOR THE ISLAND THROUGH THE SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, MUST NOT BE COMPROMISED. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THE PROCESS BE SOUND, ALL INCLUSIVE AND PROVIDED A PEACEFUL, DEMOCRATIC AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROCESS FOR ALL PERSONS, PARTIES AND INTERESTS IN THE ISLAND TO FINALLY RESOLVE PUERTO RICO'S 500 YEAR MARCH TOWARD DECOLONIZATION. FINALLY, YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY IS DUE IN PART TO THE INITIATIVE OF THE PUERTO RICO LEGISLATURE'S TWO CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS SEEKING CONGRESS' RESPONSE TO OUR ISLAND'S AMBIGUOUS POLITICAL ST AT U S LEFT UNRESOLVED BY THE 1993 PLEBISCITE. WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU TO REALIZE OUR OBJECTIVE: A 1998 PLEBISCITE IN WHICH FULL SELF-GOVERNMENT FOR PUERTO RICO IS INITIATED. AS THE GOVERNOR'S REPRESENTATIVE, I WANT TO REAFFIRM OUR PARTY'S SUPPORT OF THE DEFINITION OF STATEHOOD CONTAINED IN H.R. 856. WE BELIEVE THAT IT FAIRLY AND ACCURATELY REFLECTS BOTH THE BENEFITS AND OBLIGATIONS STATEHOOD ENTAILS. IT SHOULD BE ADOPTED IN ITS ENTIRETY AS THE STATEHOOD BALLOT OPTION FOR THE STATUS PLEBISCITE SCHEDULED FOR 1998. PUERTO RICANS SHOULD BE WELL INFORMED OF WHAT STATEHOOD MEANS UNDER THIS DEFINITION. THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT STATEHOOD IS THE ONLY FORMULA THAT GUARANTEES OUR U.S. CITIZENSHIP, PUTTING US ON AN EQUAL FOOTING WITH ALL OTHER AMERICANS. THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT STATEHOOD IS THE ONLY FORMULA THAT GUARANTEES THE PROTECTION OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT STATEHOOD IS THE ONLY FORMULA THAT GUARANTEES THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE AND THE ELECTION OF TWO SENATORS AND AT LEAST SIX MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO WILL SHAPE THE LAWS THAT AFFECT OUR DAILY LIVES. THEY SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT STATEHOOD IS THE ONLY FORMULA THAT GUARANTEES THE AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP TO OUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS BORN IN PUERTO RICO. THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT ONLY STATEHOOD GUARANTEES THE ENTIRE APPLICATION AND FULL FUNDING OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS, WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE STATE OF PUERTO RICO ON PARITY WITH THE REST OF THE STATES OF THE UNION. THEY SHOULD KNOW, TOO, THAT THESE BENEFITS - CITIZENSHIP, EQUAL RIGHTS, FULL FUNDING -- CARRY WITH THEM THE DUTY TO PAY FEDERAL INCOME TAX. A DUTY THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE OFFSET BY A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN ISLAND TAXES AS FEDERAL FUNDS COMPENSATE FOR LOCAL OUTLAYS. THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT THE FIFTY-FIRST STATE OF PUERTO RICO, CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH AS ITS OFFICIAL STATE LANGUAGES. A RIGHT RESERVED AND GUARANTEED TO ALL OTHER STATES UNDER THE CONSTITUTION'S TENTH AMENDMENT. A RIGHT THAT CAN ONLY BE CHANGED THROUGH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT MADE APPLICABLE TO ALL THE STATES, NOT JUST ONE OR A FEW. THEY SHOULD KNOW THE COMMITMENT OF OUR NATION TO DEMOCRATIC VALUES, MULTICULTURALISM AND PLURALISM, ALL CENTRAL TO THE AMERICAN DREAM. ONE THING THAT WE ALREADY KNOW IS THAT WHEN THE NATION HAS REQUIRED OUR PRESENCE IN THE BATTLEFIELDS IN THE FIRST AND SECOND WORLD WARS, KOREA, VIETNAM, THE PERSIAN GULF, SOMALIA AND BOSNIA, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE FRONT LINES. ATTESTING TO OUR COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND IDEALS, I INVITE YOU TO VISIT THE MEMORIAL DEDICATED BY THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO, IN RECOGNITION OF THE HUNDREDS OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS FROM THE ISLAND WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR NATION. THIS MEMORIAL IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF OUR CAPITOL. PUERTO RICANS ARE SO COMMITTED TO THEIR AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP AND TO OUR RELATION WITH OUR NATION THAT IN A POLL CONDUCTED BY A LOCAL PAPER ON JULY 23, 1990, 43.5 PERCENT EXPRESSED THAT IF PUERTO RICO BECOMES A SOVEREIGN NATION, THEY WOULD MOVE TO THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES; 42 PERCENT SAID THEY WOULD REMAIN ON THE ISLAND; AND 15 PERCENT EXPRESSED TO BE UNDECIDED. THE POLL REVEALED THAT 60 PERCENT OF OUR YOUTH WOULD MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES. IF THE SAME QUESTION IS POLLED TODAY THE NUMBERS WOULD BE EVEN HIGHER THAN THOSE IN 1990. IN A MORE RECENT POLL, 91 PERCENT OF THOSE INTERVIEWED STATED THAT U.S. CITIZENSHIP WAS VERY IMPORTANT. SURPRISINGLY, 53 PERCENT OF INDEPENDENCE SUPPORTERS POLLED SAID THEY CONSIDER U.S. CITIZENSHIP VERY IMPORTANT! IN SUM, THE STATEHOOD DEFINITION CLEARLY AND PRECISELY DECLARES TO VOTERS THAT IT IS THE ONLY FORMULA THAT PUTS PUERTO RICO ON AN EQUAL FOOTING WITH ALL THE OTHER STATES AND CONFERS ON ITS RESIDENTS THE SAME CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS ALL OTHER U.S. CITIZENS ENJOY. CHAIRMAN YOUNG, AS STATED IN THE LETTER SIGNED BY YOU AND CHAIRMEN BURTON, GALLEGLY AND GILMAN ON FEBRUARY 29, 1996, IN RESPONSE TO THE RESULTS OF THE 1993 PLEBISCITE "THERE IS A NEED FOR CONGRESS TO DEFINE THE REAL OPTIONS FOR CHANGE AND THE TRUE LEGAL AND POLITICAL NATURE OF THE STATUS QUO, SO THAT THE PEOPLE CAN KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL CHOICES WILL BE IN THE FUTURE." THAT, YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WITH H.R. 856. THE STATUS OPTIONS AS DEFINED IN THE BILL MEET YOUR CRITERIA. THEY SHOULD STAND AS WRITTEN, OR OTHERWISE THE SELF-DETERMINATION PROCESS WILL BE COMPROMISED AS IT WAS IN 1993. THE PROCESS IS IMPORTANT, TOO. THE 1998 PLEBISCITE CAMPAIGN WILL BE FREE OF THE DEMAGOGUERY AND RHETORIC, CHARACTERISTIC OF PAST STATUS VOTES WHERE ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER IMPUGNED THE LEGALITY OF ONE OR MORE OF THE OPTIONS OR QUESTIONED CONGRESS' WILLINGNESS TO IMPLEMENT THE RESULTS. RATHER, THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE WAGED ON THE MERITS OF THE STATUS OPTIONS: WHAT'S GOOD FOR PUERTO RICO AND FOR PUERTO RICANS, WHAT CAN BE DONE AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF CHOOSING ONE PATH OVER ANOTHER. SECONDLY, THE BILL ENCOMPASSES ALL STATUS OPTIONS THEREBY ESTABLISHING ITS CREDIBILITY AND CLAIM TO INCLUSIVENESS. EVERY LEGITIMATE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED STATUS OPTION IS OFFERED TO VOTERS OF EVERY PERSUASION. A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT DENIES NO ONE THEIR SAY BUT ONE WHICH RECOGNIZES THAT THE MAJORITY RULES. PUTTING ON MY SENATE HAT, LET US REMEMBER THAT IT WAS THE PUERTO RICO LEGISLATURE THAT REQUESTED CONGRESS TO RESPOND TO THE RESULTS OF OUR 1993 PLEBISCITE IN WHICH NONE OF THE OPTIONS, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1952, RECEIVED A MAJORITY VOTE AMONG OUR ELECTORATE. H.R. 856 IS THE FINAL MANIFESTATION OF CONGRESS’ RESPONSE TO OUR TWO CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS. AND, AS I HAVE ALREADY STATED, IT IS A CLEAR AND DEFINITIVE FRAMEWORK PROVIDING BOTH LEGITIMATE STATUS OPTIONS CAPABLE OF IMPLEMENTATION AND A SELF-DETERMINATION PROCESS CONSISTENT WITH DEMOCRATIC NORMS AND INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED PRACTICES. H.R. 856 SHOULD BE ENACTED AS WRITTEN. WITH YOUR CONTINUED ASSISTANCE PUERTO RICO AND THE RESIDENTS OF THIS ISLAND WILL ENTER THE NEXT MILLENNIUM CONFIDENT IN THEIR FUTURE AS FIRST CLASS AMERICAN CITIZENS FULL PARTICIPANTS IN THE AMERICAN DREAM. THE CONSCIENCE OF THE DEMOCRATIC WORLD WILL BE CLOSELY WATCHING THIS PROCESS. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL FINALLY JUDGE THE FIRMNESS OF OUR NATION IN RESPECTING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO FREELY EXPRESSED IN 1998. A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WHICH WILL BE AN EXTRAORDINARY TEST FOR THE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS OF OUR NATION. PUERTO RICO STANDS AS THE FINAL FRONTIER OF THE U.S. PROMISE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM TO ALL WHO LIVE WITHIN ITS NATIONAL BORDERS. AFTER 500 YEARS OF COLONIALISM, 100 UNDER THE U.S. FLAG, IT IS TIME TO PROVIDE THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO WITH FULL AND EQUAL ACCESS TO THAT DREAM. A DREAM WHOSE CONSTITUTIONAL UNDERPINNINGS WE HAVE DEFENDED ABROAD WITH VALOR FOR OVER 80 YEARS. THANK YOU.
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