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Para ver este documento en español, oprima aquí. Historic Senate Resolution Backs Self-Determination in Puerto RicoWASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate in a historic resolution has unanimously endorsed a self-determination plebiscite in Puerto Rico and has pledged to pay serious attention to results of the December 13 vote. Enacted during an evening session on Thursday, September 17, Senate Resolution 279 declared that the Senate "supports and recognizes the right of United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico to express democratically their views regarding their future political status through a referendum or other public forum, and to communicate those views to the President and Congress." The "sense of the Senate" resolution further states that "the Federal Government should review any such communication." In passing the resolution, the Senate joined the U.S. House of Representatives in the endorsement of a political status plebiscite in which voters will express their preferences for commonwealth status, independence, statehood or free association. Supporting the resolution, Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota, the Democratic leader in the Senate, said the Nation was built on democratic principles of equality, opportunity and the right of self-determination. "Yet," he said, "American citizens on the island of Puerto Rico lack the rights to express the basic tenet of democracy, a government chosen by the people." Granted citizenship in 1917, Puerto Ricans have no representation in the Senate and only a nonvoting Resident Commissioner, Carlos Romero-Barcelo, in the US House of Representatives. Thursday's vote culminated a two-year effort to gain Congressional approval of a procedure which would lead ultimately to permanent status of the island's government. The vote occurred during the second week of National Hispanic Month and during the 100th year after the U.S. acquired Puerto Rico from Spain at the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. In discussing the resolution, more than one Senator called Puerto Rico little more than a colony with a change in Puerto Rico status constituting the "unfulfilled business of American democracy." Senators joining Daschle in actively endorsing the resolution were Alphonse M. D'Amato (Rep.- New York), Bob Graham (Dem.-Florida), Larry E. Craig (Rep.-Idaho), Robert G. Torricelli (Dem.-New Jersey), Frank H. Murkowski (Rep.-Alaska), Ted Stevens (Rep.-Alaska), Joseph I. Lieberman (Dem.-Connecticut), Orrin Hatch (Rep.-Oregon) , and Pete V. Domenici (Rep.-New Mexico). Senator Craig pointed out that any act of self-determination in Puerto Rico such as the upcoming plebiscite is not self executing. Therefore, the resolution of the island's political status is a "federal matter that can only be fully and finally determined by an act of Congress." "However," he continued, "in the exercising of its powers in this regard, Congress must be informed by the freely expressed wishes of the citizens of Puerto Rico. Thus, this resolution recognizes that the coming vote will advance the process of self-determination within the framework of our great Nation's Constitution." He hoped results of the December vote "will be an advanced expression of Puerto Ricans' desire to advance the cause of statehood, but most importantly to advance the cause of self-determination so that the Congress can have the kind of direction that we hope that vote will bring." Senator D'Amato also strongly backed the resolution: "It is a moral necessity that we (Senators) strongly encourage the process of self-determination for four million Americans, U.S. citizens who live in Puerto Rico . . . we want to encourage people, saying the right to vote, the right to determining one's own destiny, is inalienable." "In the fullness of time," he added, "what an incredible beacon a 51st State (of Puerto Rico) might be. What an example to all of Central America and South America, in terms of sharing our cultures, our values, with this island as part of this great Nation." Senator Stevens recalled Alaska's lengthy wait to join the Union. "The first resolution dealing with Alaska was introduced in the Congress in 1913," he said. "Final action on statehood for Alaska took place in 1958. We became a State in 1959. I hope the day will come when I am still in the Senate that we can vote on statehood for Puerto Rico." Resident Commissioner Romero-Barcelo witnessed the Senate vote and was thanked for his long and tireless efforts in generating Congressional support of Puerto Rico's self-determination. Senators also praised Governor Pedro Rossello for his initiative in calling for the non-binding December 13 plebiscite in Puerto Rico. Senator Murkowski cautioned that Congress will have to take several steps to prepare the way for a vote on statehood in Puerto Rico and there was insufficient time to complete action on them during the current session of Congress. He said these would include changes in the Internal Revenue Code and tax codes in Puerto Rico. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, he pledged to continue preparing the way for Puerto Rico's future political status.
HISPANIC COALITION SUPPORTS PLEBISCITEThe resolution was enacted one day after the Hispanic Coalition for Puerto Rican Self-determination, representing more than 100 organizations and thousands of citizens, called for Senate support of self-determination in Puerto Rico. In an extraordinary display of unity among American Hispanics, coalition members appealed for action just as senators began to consider the historic resolution. At a press conference in the Capitol, Hispanic Americans demanded action in the Senate. Veterans of the Korean War who had served in the Army's 65th Regiment, mainly infantrymen from Puerto Rico, attended the press conference. Their heroic regiment was singled out as an outstanding example of Puerto Rican contributions in the armed forces. Coalition member Jess Quintero, National Secretary of the American G.I. Forum, said American citizens in Puerto Rico have served in the two world wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and in countless smaller conflicts in Latin America, Africa and Asia. "In fact," he said, "Puerto Rico is the second highest American jurisdiction in per capita war casualties. More Puerto Ricans died in the Korean war than any other ethnic group in this nation. In all, over 2,000 Puerto Ricans have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend democracy all over the world." Several speakers noted that the coalition represents the broad spectrum of U.S. Hispanics, not only Puerto Ricans. And, they added, in less than 20 years this growing bloc is expected to represent 20 to 25 percent of the vote in national elections. Coalition organizations represented at the press conference also included the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Hispanic Publications, the National Hispanic Policy Forum, the Hispanic National Bar Association, the National Puerto Rican Bar Association and the Puerto Rican American Foundation. See Transcript of Senate Debate on S729
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