|
 |
|
|
|
Para ver este documento en español, oprima aquí. HISPANIC COALITION HAILS SENATE RESOLUTION ON PUERTO RICAN SELF-DETERMINATION
The Hispanic Coalition for Puerto Rican Self-Determination, an alliance of leading Hispanic national organizations, today expressed satisfaction with the Sense of the Senate Resolution passed by the U.S. Senate on September 17th (S.279). The resolution, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent, recognizes the right of the nearly 4 million U.S. citizens on the island to express their desires regarding a future political status. On the day before the vote, Coalition leaders held a press conference at the U.S. Capitol, demanding that such action be taken. Rick Davolina, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens and a leading member of the coalition said, "This resolution provides strong support for the self-determination process in Puerto Rico and for the referendum." In March of this year, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 856, which authorizes a Puerto Rican referendum with Congressionally approved definitions of the status options. The Coalition was a strong proponent of this legislation. House action, together with the current Senate resolution, offers the hope that Congress will give serious consideration to their choice of political status as expressed by the people of Puerto Rico in a forthcoming referendum to be held on the island on December 13th of this year. The Coalition issued a declaration by Hispanic organizations in support of Puerto Rico Self-determination at its press conference, calling on the Senate to respond to Puerto Rico's desire for self-determination. Scores of Hispanic organizations from all over the country joined in support of the declaration. Expressing his support of the declaration, Jess Quintero, National Secretary of the American GI Forum, the largest Hispanic veterans organization in the country, stated that, "the Hispanic community will not rest until Puerto Ricans achieve their aspiration for self determination, and the Congress supports this choice of political status." Jose Rivera, chairman of the Republican National Assembly and an active Coalition member, said, "This is a first step, but we want Congress to know that we expect prompt and fair consideration of the referendum results in the next session of Congress. Hispanic Republicans and the other member organizations will not tolerate any stalling or delaying tactics in the next session of Congress." The Hispanic Coalition for Puerto Rican Self-determination will continue to be active to insure that the expressed desires of the American citizens of Puerto Rico will be acted upon by the 106th Congress. Senate minority leader Tom Daschle's statement in the debate on S. 297 sum up the Coalition's position on this matter very well. "In the case of Puerto Rico," he said, "Democracy delayed is democracy denied. The destiny of Puerto Rico's political future should be in the hands of the people of Puerto Rico. Congress should pass legislation that provides the congressional framework to recognize and implement their decision."
|
