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Para ver este documento en español, oprima aquí. Senate Resolution 279 PassagePROCEEDINGSClick here for text of Sen. Res. 279 Washington, D.C. THE CLERK: S. Res. 279, a resolution expressing a sense of the Senate supporting the right of the United States in Puerto Rico to express their desires regarding their future political status. SENATOR DASCHLE: Mr. President, I'm very pleased to join my colleagues in support of this sense of the Senate resolution that recognizes the rights of U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico to decide their political future. Let me publicly commend the distinguished Senator from New Jersey and the Senator from Florida for their outstanding leadership in bringing us to this point. Resolutions of this kind, and legislation dealing with this particular issue have had a roller coaster ride in this Congress. Were it not for the tremendous persistence of the Senator from New Jersey and the Senator from Florida, we wouldn't be here tonight. So let me publicly express on behalf of all of our colleagues our thanks to them for their leadership, their persistence, and their diligence in bringing us to a point where we hope on a unanimous basis, this resolution will at long last pass tonight. Very simply, the resolution states that the people of Puerto Rico should be given an opportunity to express their views on the political status of Puerto Rico through some form of plebiscite. President Kennedy once said the most precious and powerful right in the world is the right to vote in an American election. The great Mexican patriot, Benito Juarez, once said that democracy is the destiny of humanity. In the case of Puerto Rico, 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. Our nation is built on democratic principles of equality and opportunity and the right of self-determination. Yet American citizens on the island of Puerto Rico lack the right to express the basis tenet of democracy: a government chosen by the people. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, that government is the strongest of which every man feels a part. In regard to Puerto Rico, formal recognition of these democratic ideals is long overdue. Since the end of the Spanish-American War 100 years ago, we have shared a social, economic and political union with Puerto Rico. In 1917, Congress granted citizenship to Puerto Ricans, and in 1952, the people of Puerto Rico took on local self-government. In 1963, President Kennedy called for self-determination for the people of Puerto Rico. More than a quarter century later, we are still debating the issue in the Senate, as four million Americans are denied basic, democratic rights. Mr. President, I would hope we would all agree that this is simply unacceptable. The people of Puerto Rico have long demonstrated their patriotism to the United States. Tens of thousands have served in the American military. More than 1200 Puerto Ricans have died in combat to preserve our democratic way of life. I support the right of self-determination for U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico, and that is why I am a cosponsor of S.472, the United States-Puerto Rico Political Status Act, which provides a congressionally recognized framework for U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico to freely decide statehood, independence, or continuance of the commonwealth under U.S. jurisdiction. As a first step, Congress should pass this sense of the Senate resolution this year. In an effort to resolve the question of Puerto Rico's political status in a fair manner, we must insure we provide full democratic rights for all American citizens, including those who live in Puerto Rico. Mr. President, I yield the floor. SENATOR GRAHAM: Mr. President? SENATOR PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from the great state of Florida. SENATOR GRAHAM: Mr. President, I rise to speak on this sense of the Senate resolution with mixed feelings. I would have much preferred to be speaking tonight on behalf of legislation that would have provided, for the first time in the 100 year relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico for a congressionally sanctioned plebiscite giving to the people of Puerto Rico the sense of confidence from respect that their voice would be heard as to their desires for their political future. Our colleagues in the House of Representatives passed such a plebiscite bill. Unfortunately, after months of hearings, we are unable, or will not have the opportunity, to present from the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to the full Senate, such legislation. I commend Senator Murkowski, who made a valiant effort to do so, including developing legislation which I think could have been the basis of a consensus on this matter and would have resulted in a favorable vote in the full Senate, and the nucleus of a compromise with the House of Representatives. But the world goes on. The Governor of Puerto Rico has, with the concurrence of the Puerto Rican Congress, called for a referendum on the political future of Puerto Rico, to be held on the 13th of December. It is important that as a minimal statement of our commitment to the principle of self-determination, that we pass this sense of the Senate Resolution, and express our position in favor of that plebiscite, and indicate that we will take its results with appropriate seriousness. We recognize, and the Sense of the Senate Resolution proclaims, that the ultimate decision as to the political future of Puerto Rico will be made by this Congress. But by giving the degree of recognition to the Puerto Rican called plebiscite on the 13th of December, that this Sense of the Senate Resolution will do, will give additional standing, additional confidence to the people of Puerto Rico that their vote on that day will have an important impact here, as we decide what next steps to take relative to the political future of Puerto Rico. Mr. President, it is clear that we cannot continue with the status quo. A decision is going to have to be made, and, I believe, made soon as to what the permanent political status of Puerto Rico will be. We have had this experience throughout America's history. After the first thirteen colonies, there was the Northwest Ordinance, which laid out the basic principle by which future states would be carved out of the large territories of America and join the original states. And that principle included the fact that those new states would join with equal dignity, with equal political rights and responsibilities, to the thirteen original states. These have been basic tenets of our democracy, which now we are called upon to make available to the people of Puerto Rico. My colleague, Senator Torricelli, in comments last week, made the statement which I think summarizes the essence of the debate that we are having this evening, and that is that Puerto Rico represents the unfinished business of American democracy. And it cannot be ignored unfinished business. We need to set about our task of completing that, and that task begins by a respectful listening to the desires of the almost four million United States citizens who live on the island of Puerto Rico. I would like to remind my colleagues that we are not talking about four million people who are citizens of a foreign land. Every one of those four million people in Puerto Rico is a citizen of the United States of America. These are fellow citizens who have never been afforded the opportunity for a clear, congressionally-sanctioned expression of their opinion as to what their political future should be. The nearly four million United States citizens who reside in Puerto Rico are entitled to that opportunity. This combination of a Puerto Rican congressional-called plebiscite with this degree of sanction by the United States Congress is as close as we can reach to that objective in 1998. The Sense of the Senate is the very least that we can do to honor the request of our fellow United States citizens in Puerto Rico, and send them a clear message that we are listening to their desires. The Sense of the Senate, in conjunction with the House-passed bill, takes an important step in the right direction. I thank all of my colleagues who have cosponsored this resolution. I thank all of those who have been so active in the efforts to secure a congressionally-sanctioned plebiscite in Puerto Rico. And I say to our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico, we admire your contribution for a century to the development of our land. We admire your patriotism in time of war, and to your great contributions in the time of peace. We extend to you this statement of our respect. We urge your full participation in the plebiscite on December 13th. We will be anxious to receive your statement of your desires for your political destiny, and then I hope that my colleagues here in this chamber, and our companion chamber, will hear with dignity what you have said, and will move towards -- with your direction, providing a permanent political status for the United States citizens on the island of Puerto Rico. Thank you, Mr. President. SENATOR CRAIG: Mr. President? SENATOR PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from Idaho. SENATOR CRAIG : Mr. President, first of all, let me thank the Senator from New Jersey for authoring and bringing forth Senate Resolution 279. I'm pleased to be a cosponsor of it, along with the Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Murkowski, for the and I have a -- can I say labored mightily, along with the Senator from Florida, over the last good many months, first of all, to work on the issue of self-determination for Puerto Rico. I certainly thank all of my colleagues for the co-sponsorship of S. 472, legislation that I introduced a year ago that I hope, as does the Senator from Florida, that we could be voting on it at this time, debating on it, voting on it, and giving our Puerto Rican friends and fellow citizens the opportunity of clear direction as it relates to self-determination. That is not going to be the case. Time has not allowed that. And so I would hope that by next year, the record before the Senate might include the results of another plebiscite in Puerto Rico that the Senator from Florida has just mentioned. And that is why the resolution before us today I think is very important. In accordance with their rights of self-determination, citizens of this nation, the people of Puerto Rico acting through their constitutional process, and elected representatives have empowered themselves to conduct a vote based on the record created in the House and the Senate deliberations in the Congress since the 1993 vote. Since any act of self-determination in Puerto Rico is not self-executing, resolution of Puerto Rico's political status is a federal matter that can only be fully and finally determined by an act of Congress. However, in exercising 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. Contrary to rumors in Puerto Rico, there was no great intrigue or political reaction to videotapes from local status campaigns that prevented the Senate from moving forward with legislation of this kind. Rather, faced with what we all understand is a very complicated schedule here in the final days before we adjourn, and concern on the part of colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we have brought this Senate Resolution 279 to the floor to express at this time, as the House has expressed, an opportunity for the Puerto Ricans to advance the cause of their self-determination. And I would hope that the resolution, and our vote on it tonight, reflects that. So Mr. President, let me ask unanimous consent that my full statement be a part of the record. SENATOR PRESIDING OFFICER: Without objection. SENATOR CRAIG: I, as I say, join with my colleague from Florida, New Jersey, and now the chairman of the full committee is here on the floor to say to our friends and citizens of Puerto Rico that we ask them to go forward with their vote in December. We hope that that is an advanced expression of their 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. With that, I yield the floor. SENATOR MURKOWSKI: Mr. President? PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from Alaska. SENATOR MURKOWSKI: [Inaudible] my colleagues have waited longer than I have. I simply want to identify the time on either side, and if I may, and if there's no objection, I'd like to control the time. PRESIDING OFFICER: The Majority has twenty minutes. The Minority has thirteen minutes. SENATOR MURKOWSKI: I'd be happy to -- obviously, I don't want to speak for the Minority, but I would yield whatever time to the Minority, or perhaps Senator Torricelli would like to control time for the Minority. SENATOR GRAHAM: Mr. President, could I ask recognition first -- PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from Florida. SENATOR GRAHAM: -- of unanimous consent? I ask unanimous consent that Damian Lasanto [PHONETIC], Luis Rivera, and Daniel Quintana of my staff, and Susan Dezar of Senator D'Amato's staff be accorded floor privileges for the remainder of today's session. PRESIDING OFFICER: Without objection. SENATOR TORRICELLI: Thank you. [Simultaneous remarks. Unintelligible.] SENATOR TORRICELLI: The Senator from Alaska? PRESIDING OFFICER: If the Senator would withhold for just a moment. Ten minutes of the Minority time is already under the control of Senator Sarbanes, under the previous order. SENATOR TORRICELLI: Mr. President I would ask unanimous consent that I be able to control the remainder of Minority time, as the Senator from Alaska, Mr. Murkowski, control the remainder of majority time. PRESIDING OFFICER: Without objection. SENATOR D'AMATO: Mr. President -- SENATOR MURKOWSKI: How much time does the Senator [inaudible]? SENATOR D'AMATO: No more than five minutes. PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from New York is recognized for five minutes. SENATOR D'AMATO: Mr. President, let me, at the outset, say how tremendous how I am, and pleased that one of my great and dear friends, the Senator from Alaska, has worked so hard and so diligently to attempt to advance, and to advance a cause that this nation espouses for so many. We talk about lack of freedom throughout the world. We talk about democracy. And indeed, it is unfortunate that there are strong forces, and people who I know, and who I respect, who, even at this very time, give lip service rather than meaningful and true support for that cause. Senator Murkowski understands that freedom and democracy are not something that just should be for some, but should be for all. And that the right of self-determination is an inalienable God-given right, and it is one that this country is founded on, and that people have paid the greatest price and sacrifice with their life, with their families, jeopardizing them: fight for freedom, fight for democracy. And I have to tell you that it is more than imperative, it is a moral necessity, and we strongly encourage the process of self-determination for four million Americans, U.S. citizens, who live in Puerto Rico, that they should determine by what rules and what form of government they should have. I mean, here we've been for years talking about the lack of democracy in all areas of the world. We talk about it in China, Korea, here, there. We should be ashamed that it has taken us so long to be able to come forth with a rather simple resolution, and it has taken so much, and such an incredible effort, by the Senator from Alaska and others to bring us to this point. This is a pittance in comparison to those who've led, who've sacrificed for democracy, for self-determination And I would hope that we would understand that we want to encourage people to say yes, the right to vote, the right to determine one's own destiny is inalienable. And I would like to have a recorded vote. I would like for us to say, "Hey, we are going to recognize your hopes and your aspirations and your dreams." It is my hope that the people vote for statehood. But that's their right, and they may determine that they want to continue the present situation. But they should have that inalienable right, and we should say to them that we are ready and willing to recognize -- to recognize -- your choice, your decision as free men and women. Yes. And that we would be willing and ready to undertake supporting that decision, because we respect the inalienable rights of people to make their own determination. Yes, as we mark the 100th anniversary of Puerto Rico becoming a part of the United States, I think it's important to recognize that their sons and daughters have made the supreme sacrifice, they have answered the call of duty. They have been there, and now it is time for us to say that you can be a part of this great nation, not just as citizens, but as a state -- if you choose. If you determine, and then send your response to us. There are those who say it doesn't matter. Well, it does matter. And it's bigger than partisan politics. It's bigger than Republicans and Democrats. And I believe that in the fullness of time what an incredible beacon the 51st state might be. But that is for the people of Puerto Rico to determine. What an example to all of Central American, South America, in terms of sharing our cultures and our values of the island as part of this great nation. But certainly, at the very least -- hey. The people of Puerto Rico, our citizens, should have that right -- which we declare day in and day out as inalienable for people throughout the world, far corners of the world. Oh, it's easy there. Isn't it different when it comes to our own people in our own hemisphere. I want to congratulate my friends for bringing it to this point, to the Senate Majority Leader, and Senator Torricelli for his unwavering support of that commitment to justice, to democracy, to self-determination. I yield the floor. PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from New Jersey. SENATOR TORRICELLI: Mr. President, I want to first express my congratulations to Senator Murkowski, without whose efforts in the committee we would not today be discussing this resolution. Senator Graham of Florida, who has labored for so long on this cause. Senator Daschle, Senator Landrieu, Senator D'Amato, Senator Craig. So many members of this institution who have taken the cause and the interests of the people of Puerto Rico and made it their own. There is, Mr. President, few more solemn responsibilities to come to the Congress of the United States than the issue of admission into this great union. It is solemn, because to join in union is to share a future, to pledge our fortunes, our lives, together. It is a serious occasion because the prospect of joining this union raises the prospect of forever. Because this union is indivisible, and it is permanent, and the judgment to join this union is made by any peoples and any lands but once in this history, and it is never revisited again. For 100 years, the people of Puerto Rico and these United States have shared a common history. Our people have fought together, bled together, and died together. Our cultures, over a period of time, increasingly have merged. Hundreds of thousands, indeed, millions, of people of Puerto Rico have chosen to live among other Americans in these United States. Indeed, the judgment that potentially might be made by the people of Puerto Rico who reside on the island has economically, culturally, and even politically already been made by millions of others, in how they live and where they choose to live. Mr. President, the history of the United States for these 200 years has been a history of constant enfranchisement, expanding the right to vote to African-Americans, to women, to people 18 years of age. In our own generation, to the people of Hawaii and Alaska. It is part of the great history of this country that we, unlike other nations, were not satisfied simply to enfranchise ourselves. We recognized we were the greater and the better people through our expansion. Now, we potentially visit that question again. It is a judgment that can only be made by the people of Puerto Rico for themselves. This is ultimately their responsibility to decide. But is the responsibility of this Congress that they have the right to decide. It is a peculiar and tragic irony of history that the first Republic to be created out of colonialism might now enter the 21st century in a neocolonialist position. No American should be content with this contradiction of our own history. And that some might claim, some might even accuse, that this United States government is in a position with the people of Puerto Rico that is anything less than full, free, fair and democratic. And yet, by the definitions that we've applied for ourselves, it would be difficult to defend against the charge. Written on the walls of this capital from the Inaugural Address of President Harrison in 1841, and I quote the words, "The only legitimate right to govern is an expressed grant of power from the governed." And yet, Mr. President, every day people of Puerto Rico are subjected to fees, rules, regulations, policies and determinations from this Congress, having no representative who has a right to vote and make a judgment on their behalf. The relationship between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States is a contradiction with everything that we hold dear, and every principle upon which this country was founded. Mr. President, I urge the people of Puerto Rico to take this judgment seriously between this date and December 13th, to think carefully. If they decide to join this union, this is a moment that they will not visit again. Joining this union is permanent. If it were my judgment, I, like the Senator from New York, Senator D'Amato, would choose to join the union. I believe history has given us the right, the responsibility, to face the future together. But I recognize mine is no more than a casual opinion. The decision, and the decision alone, rests with the people of Puerto Rico. The importance of this resolution, that is as the people of Puerto Rico vote, they should recognize the United States Congress considers Puerto Rico to genuinely be the unfinished business of American democracy. The people of Puerto Rico should recognize as they vote. The Congress of the United States is watching, that we recognize our responsibilities and are prepared in the 106th Congress to receive their judgment and make our own decision about the future of this union. Mr. President, I once again want to congratulate Senator Murkowski for having presided over these issues these months, Senator Graham for his leadership, and each of my colleagues who come to this floor on a bipartisan basis across ideological lines, united in our common belief that there is no right to govern without the consent of the governed, and that it is not good enough, in spite of the franchise, and of all of our peoples across this continent, that there remains a single exception. America is too good a land, our history is too great, for anyone to be an exception on these great and lasting principles. Mr. President, I yield the floor. PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from Alaska. SENATOR MURKOWSKI: [Inaudible] side has about fifteen minutes remaining. PRESIDING OFFICER: Fifteen minutes. SENATOR MURKOWSKI: I would yield five minutes to Senator Domenici from New Mexico. PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from New Mexico is recognized for five minutes. SENATOR DOMENICI: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, let me say that it's appropriate that we take this action tonight on the second day of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. It's quite appropriate while we're honoring the Hispanic cultures contribution to our country that we're now saying to another part of Hispanic culture that we're willing to see you take a vote to see whether you want to become a state or not. Mr. President, this resolution affirms that the first step in any change of political status for the community of Puerto Rico rests with the people of that island. When they express that opinion in December -- December of this very year that we're in -- then it will be up to Congress to take whatever steps are necessary to consider that decision. But let me say, Mr. President, there are a number off Senate heroes with reference to this Puerto Rican resolution. First, I must say that apparently the recollection of the difficulties of taking a vote and deciding whether you're going to become a state or not, is remembered most by those Senators whose states were last admitted -- or close to last admitted -- so that the hero to night is Frank Murkowski. Anybody wondering, that's not a Hispanic name. Murkowski. But it is the name of a European community. Perhaps Polish, one might say. And he understands, he understands what is for a state to go through this process of whether you're going to become a part of the union, the United States union of states. And I remind the Puerto Ricans, Americans think the union is so important, that we had a Civil War over whether you could unilaterally drop out of the union once you were in it. So take it serious, Puerto Ricans, because it is serious. We had the biggest bloodbath in our nation about the issue of keeping this great nation together, and you should know that, and you should be concerned about that. But secondly, let me suggest that in the state of New York, there's a Senator named Senator D'Amato, and the Puerto Ricans know that's not a Spanish name, either. It's an Italian name, like my name, "Domenici." But this Senator from New York understands what the Puerto Ricans in his state, and the Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico mean to our nation. And he has never been unwilling to give the people in Puerto Rico an opportunity to determine their destiny, and I believe, second to Senator Murkowski on our side of the aisle, behind the scenes, he has made it very clear that this night should occur. Not next year, or the year after, but now. And so I complement my good friend, and a friend of the Puerto Ricans in New York, that live there, I complement the Senator for his tremendous, tremendous regard for what they think is right and fair. And I must say from the other side of the aisle, it is most interesting that tonight we have a series of Senators with these strange names: Murkowski, on our side; D'Amato, on our side; Domenici speaking; and Torricelli, from New Jersey. And I want to complement you, Senator, for your vigilant and absolute persistence that something should be done before we leave here. So tonight, without any question, the Puerto Rican people can already say across their land, because it is a foregone conclusion, the Senate will vote tonight on this resolution propounded by the Senator from Alaska, Senator Murkowski, and frankly, it will pass overwhelmingly. There will be no dissenting votes tonight, because for those who would like to dissent, they've already decided that they're not going to make a point of it, and as a consequence, we're going to approve this in just as formidable away as if we had voted when the United States says, without dissenting vote tonight, let us approve this resolution. So, Mr. President, once again, many of us came from foreign countries, or our parents did, and we know the validity and the great value of America. And we hope the people there in Puerto Rico understand that, and act accordingly. I yield the floor. SENATOR MURKOWSKI: Senator Hatch, I believe, would like recognition for three minutes. PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from Utah is recognized for three minutes. SENATOR HATCH: Mr. President, I've been to Puerto Rico and I have to say it's a beautiful land. These are our fellow citizens. They have to make this determination. And of course, we should give them that right. I've heard both arguments within Puerto Rico. Some feel it's a great idea to have statehood, and others don't think it's quite so great. There are disadvantages to becoming a state, no question about it, but there are great advantages as well. And all we're doing here this evening is acknowledging, as members of the United States Senate, the right of our fellow United States citizens in Puerto Rico to express democratically their views regarding their future political status through a referendum and other public forum, and to communicate those views to the President of the United States and to Congress. That's the least we could do. These are good people. These are proud people. These are people who have contributed to this country, and who will contribute to this country, even though their status has been different from other citizens. And I personally endorse and support this resolution here this evening, and I hope that -- I know that it will pass, and it will pass by unanimous consent, which I think is a high tribute to the people of Puerto Rico and to those on both sides of this issue down there. I want to congratulate all of those who have worked so hard to get this done, especially Senator Murkowski, Senator Torricelli, the others who have been mentioned -- Senator D'Amato, Senator Domenici, et cetera. This is a wonderful evening, and a wonderful day, and something that's long overdue, and I want to congratulate my colleagues for having accomplished this today. I yield the floor. PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from Alaska. SENATOR MURKOWSKI: Mr. President, first of all, in the concluding minutes that we have before our vote, let me recognize from the House of Representatives, our good friend, Carlos Romero-Barcelo who is with us watching this historic action of the United States Senate. It is a pleasure to have you with us, my friend, and your contribution to these moments have been immeasurable, and your people of Puerto Rico can be very proud of your contribution in bringing this matter from the House of Representatives to the floor of the United States Senate tonight. Let me acknowledge my good friends and colleagues who had such a significant role in moving this to where we are today. Of course, that would include Senator Torricelli and Senator D'Amato, and I think it's important to recognize the constituency associated with many of the members who have come forth as initial sponsors. Senator Lott. We've heard from Senator Hatch. My good friend from Hawaii, Senator Akaka, Senator Daschle, Senator Landrieu, Senator Lieberman, Senator Graham of Florida, Senator Domenici. There are many, many more. But the commitment, particularly of Senator D'Amato and Senator Torricelli, I think represent an extraordinary sensitivity as brought out in the statements, not necessarily individually, of their feeling towards what America is all about, but perhaps better in the comments that were made by the Senator from New Mexico, Senator Domenici, who indicated, as you look at these names of sponsors on this legislation, you have a potpourri, if you will, of the mixture of America committed to democracy. I must acknowledge in my thanks to my colleagues that this Senator from Alaska does not have a large Puerto Rican constituency. But I do have a long memory. Alaska has been a state since 1959. I grew up in a territory. We had taxation without representation. My father used to say he felt good about being able to write on his income tax form in a red pen: "Filed under protest: taxation without representation." But that's the extent of what made him feel good. And I can recall seeing neighbors, when I was too young to go into the draft, be drafted. And we were second-class citizens, Mr. President. We had special identification cards to leave the territory of Alaska to visit the state of Washington. That was quite a blow to the sensitivity of American citizens, and, as a consequence, we have the situation with regard to Puerto Rico today. Mr. President, I would like to have the clerk reserve at least two minutes of my time remaining for one of my colleagues who is here with me. But let me -- PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator has four minutes and thirty seconds remaining. SENATOR MURKOWSKI: If I may, I want to specifically cite the fact that I support this resolution. It reaffirms the right of the fellow citizens -- and I emphasize fellow citizens of Puerto Rico -- to express their desires on the political status through popular referendum, and communicate those desires to the federal government. But I also agree that the federal government must carefully review and consider any such communications. During this Congress, the House of Representatives have passed legislation requiring a referendum in Puerto Rico, and similar legislation was introduced in the Senate. I cautioned when those measures were introduced that this would be an extraordinary complex and time --[break in audio] -- cautioned when those measures were introduced that this would be an extraordinary complex and time-consuming process, because I recall what happened in my own state of Alaska. It took a long time. Nevertheless, and despite the limitations on the Senate schedule and the importance of other measures pending before the committee, we did hold a series of workshops, oversight hearings, legislative hearings, and as the result of our workshops and hearings, I did circulate a draft chairman's mark prior to the August recess to my colleagues on the committee, and I asked for review and comments. Several members submitted very thoughtful amendments to the draft chairman's mark, and while I have directed the staff to continue to work on these amendments, I do not see that attempting to force the legislative process would either be wise or helpful, in view of the remaining time left to this session. So, as a consequence, I wholeheartedly support the objectives of this resolution, and they are fully consistent with the framework of my draft chairman's mark. There is no question that Puerto Rico, either through popular referendum or resolution of the legislature, or simple petition, has the right to express its desires and political status. There should also be no question that the federal government should respond to any expression seriously and with due consideration. The government of Puerto Rico has now enacted legislation calling for a referendum December 13th of this year, and developing the definitions that will be placed before the voters. The draftsmen have had before them language contained in the House-passed measure, and the Senate-introduced measure, and my draft chairman's mark. They have also had the testimony of the administration and they have chosen to adopt -- SENATOR MURKOWSKI: I would ask unanimous consent if I might have two more minutes added to the end of the -- four minutes added to the end of our time. PRESIDING OFFICER: Is there objection? Without objection, so ordered. SENATOR MURKOWSKI: I thank the Chair. Mr. President, I think it's important I conclude my remarks, and then I'll yield to my colleagues who still want to speak on this issue. To continue, they chose to adopt definitions based on their own judgment, and I want to make it absolutely clear that even had the draft chairman's mark be enacted, Puerto Rico would not have been obliged to adopt the definitions contained in that mark. The draft mark was strictly advisory, as well as the results of any referendum. That is as it should be. All we could hope to do would be to provide some guidance as to what this Congress thinks the process would likely do. Just as we cannot bind a future Congress, neither can an advisory referendum bind us. I believe that we still owe our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico a fair statement of the alternatives and the processes involved in future political status so that they can express their desire in a meaningful way. Passage of this resolution does not, in any sense, diminish the importance of providing that information. The initial step for any political status change rests with our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico. Only they can decide whether and when to petition the Congress for the consideration of a change in status. Only Congress can consider the legislation necessary to remove the obstacles to such a status, in the philosophy of the Northwest Ordinance, prepare Puerto Rico for consideration of that status. I think that ultimately we need to clarify that process in legislation. Time is running out in this session. But I intend to resume where we are now at the beginning of the 106th Congress. In the interim, I think we have made considerable progress in clarifying the issues through our hearings, and in the reactions to the draft chairman's mark. This resolution that we have before us is completely consistent with that purpose, and my best wishes go to the Governor and the people of Puerto Rico as they prepare to express their preference on the December 13th referendum vote. I would yield the time I have remaining to the senior Senator from Alaska, Senator Stevens. SENATOR STEVENS: Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Alaska, and I come to the floor to congratulate him and the other members of his committee for the action they're taking tonight to recognize the continuing support for the Congress for the determination by the people of Puerto Rico what their future status should be. The first resolution dealing with Alaska in the Congress was introduced in 1913. The final action on statehood for Alaska took place in 1958. We became a state in 1959, as Senator Murkowski has said. It's a long process to seek to change the political status of a portion of the United States, and Puerto Rico is a portion of our country, and it really deserves the opportunity to express itself as people do on what their future should be. So my congratulations to everyone who is moving this forward. I hope the day will come when I'm still in the Senate, when we can vote on statehood for Puerto Rico. PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from New Jersey. SENATOR TORRICELLI: [Inaudible] the time remaining. PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from New Jersey controls four minutes and forty seconds. SENATOR TORRICELLI: Mr. President, let me finally, and in conclusion -- I also want to thank Carlos Romero Barcelo. The fact that this Senate has come together tonight in this extraordinary judgment would not have been possible without his leadership and, of course, as Senator Murkowski also noted, Governor Pedro Rocello, who has been such an important part of understanding this issue, building this very broad coalition. To the Governor, I offer my very sincere congratulations. He's an extraordinary man who's given a great service to his people in making this night possible. Carlos Romero Barcelo, your service has been -- nonetheless, it has been a great credit to the people of Puerto Rico. Mr. President, I yield the remainder of my time to the Senator from Connecticut, Senator Lieberman. PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from Connecticut is recognized for four minutes. SENATOR LIEBERMAN: I thank the Chair, thank my friend from New Jersey, particularly for his leadership in bringing this resolution forward and express my own pleasure at being a cosponsor, along with a group of -- a bipartisan group of cosponsors. Mr. President, very briefly, this resolution is about principle. It's not about politics. It's about the principle of self-determination, which was at the heart of the creation of America. The principle of self-determination, democracy, self-rule. And it has continued throughout our history to today, when it remains a fundamental priority element of our foreign policy toward other peoples and other nations. And really, what this is about is taking that fundamental American principle, which we're eager to apply around the world, and apply it to four million of our fellow American citizens who live on the islands that constitute Puerto Rico, served and died in defense of America's freedom in actually disproportionate numbers. They deserve the right to become fully free, determine their destiny, and participate fully, if they choose, and how they choose, in our democracy. Senator Murkowski has been a very steadfast leader in this effort. It didn't get as far as he or we wanted, but this resolution at least gives us the possibility before the 105th session adjourns, and prior to the referendum that will be held in Puerto Rico in December, to say, as members of the Senate of both parties, that we welcome the exercise and recognize the right of our four million fellow Americans on Puerto Rico to express themselves to us and that we will review any such communication that results from the vote that they hold in December. It's the least that we could do to be true to our principles. I thank the Chair, and I yield the floor. PRESIDING OFFICER: Who seeks recognition? SENATOR MURKOWSKI: Without objection. I see no other Senator wishing to speak. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
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