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(H. Conc. R. No. 80)
(Approved September 15, 1999)
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To express the repudiation on behalf of the United
States citizens residing in Puerto Rico of any and all acts of
violence or terrorism committed to further political or social
causes.
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
The Executive Pardon granted to a group of Puerto Rican prisoners
has created a public debate in Puerto Rico and in the Nation which
requires clarification.
Puerto Rico is a society composed of some four million United
States citizens, who value their civil and democratic institutions
and resolve their political problems through their vote. Historically,
Puerto Rico has shown a total and absolute repudiation of the
use of violence to further political causes, even more so if it
leads to undermining the democratic will of the Puerto Rican people.
The United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico strive unyieldingly
to advance the democratic principles that are the foundation of
any righteous society. With their peaceful example they give dignity
to the ideals set forth in our Constitution and which are the
pillars on which our Nation was established. Puerto Ricans understand,
and rephrasing the words of Madison, that "democracy is to
factions what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly
expires." But it is our conviction, as we live and predicate,
that disagreement in democracy is manifested through vote or peaceful
protest, and not through violence.
Acts of terrorism such as those which have taken place throughout
the rest of the Nation, do not reflect the customary conduct of
a people that has historically and vehemently repudiated said
acts. An example of this is the steadfast participation of Puerto
Ricans in the social, economic and political development of our
Nation. Many are the thousands of Puerto Ricans who have shed
their blood on the battlefields, four of whom have been awarded
the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroic actions and
for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of democracy. Many
are the Puerto Ricans who have also brought glory to the world
of sports for their athletic prowess while participating in sports
events in the United States and throughout the world, to wit:
Roberto Clemente, Juan González, Chichí Rodríguez,
Roberto Alomar, Orlando Cepeda, Gigi Fernández, Tito Trinidad
and others. Many are the Puerto Ricans who have excelled in the
arts such as José Ferrer, Juan Hernández, Tito Puente,
Rita Moreno, Raúl Juliá, José Feliciano,
Ricky Martin, Jennifer López, Chayanne, among others. Many
are the Puerto Ricans who have fostered industry and trade in
goods and services, that through various bodies, such as the Hispanic
Chambers of Commerce, promote commercial exchange and the creation
of jobs in our Island as well as in the fifty states of the Union.
Many are the Puerto Ricans who have held or hold prominent positions
in the various fields of the political, juridical and civic arenas
thus contributing to the development of our Nation, such as Judges
Juan Torruella, José Cabranes and Sonia Sotomayor, the
former Surgeon General, Antonia Coello de Novello and Governors
Luis Muñoz Marín and Luis A. Ferré, among
others; true experts of an extensive democratic tradition in America.
Many are the Puerto Ricans who have brilliantly served as engineers
and experts in highly technical areas while working at NASA, at
the Chicago Board of Trade, and for many other important entities.
Puerto Rico has the highest index of voter participation in
all the Nation, with an average reaching 85% in the general elections
held every four years. In this regard, it surpasses the United
States and shines as an example of respect towards the electoral
process for the rest of the United States. Throughout this century
we have enjoyed free and peaceful elections. Our Constitution
states that a fundamental value of our public life is our devotion
to our democratic values, to the United States citizenship and
to peace.
In brief, Puerto Rico has always politically stood as a symbol
of peace, democracy, social order and has shown a sense of respect
and collaboration with those democratic institutions that have
distinguished the United States from the rest of the world. For
all the above, we Puerto Ricans reaffirm our unwavering pride
in being United States citizens.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.- To express the clearest and most vehement message
of repudiation on behalf of the four million United States citizens
residing in Puerto Rico of any act of violence or terrorism committed
to further political or social causes.
Section 2.- It is hereby directed that this Concurrent Resolution
be delivered to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives
of the United States of America, to Richard Armey, Majority Floor
Leader, Richard Gephardt, Minority Floor Leader, to Strom Thurmond,
President Pro-Tempore of the Senate of the United States of America,
to Trent Lott, Senate Majority Floor Leader, to Thomas Daschle,
Senate Minority Floor Leader, to all other members of the Congress
of the United States of America, to the President of the United
States of America, William Jefferson Clinton, to the Vice President,
Albert Gore, Jr., and to all the communications media.
Section 3.- This Resolution shall take effect immediately after
its approval.
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