Republican
National
Committee
July 13, 1998
The Honorable Frank Murkowski
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Murkowski:
We are providing the following information regarding the Republican Party's position on self-determination for Puerto Rico in light of consideration of such legislation by the Senate Committee on Energy and natural resources.
The Republican Party platform, as approved by the delegates at the 1996 Republican National Convention, states the following:
"We support the right of the United States citizens of Puerto Rico to be admitted as a fully sovereign state after they freely so determine."
"We endorse initiatives of the congressional Republican leadership to provide for Puerto Rico's smooth transition to statehood if its citizens choose to alter their current status, or set them on their own path to become an independent nation."
In 1917, Congress extended American citizenship to the people of Puerto Rico, and in 1952, Puerto Rico became a self-governing territory.
Our Party platform, in effect, recognizes the right of the American Citizens of Puerto Rico to determine their future political status. The has never bee a congressionally authorized status referendum as provided in the legislation now before Congress.
As chairman and co-chairman of the party, we fully support the platform, and we are writing to you in this capacity asking that you do the same by backing legislation for self-determination which incorporates these principles.
Sincerely yours,
(s) Jim
Jim Nicholson
Chairman
|
|
(s) Pat
Patricia S. Harrison
Co-Chairman
|
1996 Republican Platform: Restoring the American Dream, p. 30.
