Governor urges island state during congressional hearing

Governor Pedro Pierluisi today defended, before the Natural Resources Committee of the federal House of Representatives, the legislative project seeking the admission of Puerto Rico as a state.

During the congressional hearing, the project mentioned – also known as HR 1522 written by Congressman Darren Soto and resident Commissioner Jenniffer González – and project HR 2070 by Congressmen Nydia Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were discussed.

In his testimony, the governor defended the results of the last general election, where the option in favor of a state prevailed with 52%.

In addition, he assured that the law does not require or enforce Puerto Rico. “If a state is granted, the US citizens of Puerto Rico would have the same rights, responsibilities, full representation in the US Congress and would be treated equally in all federal laws, policies and programs,” said the general manager. Pierluisi also argued that the state will allow Puerto Ricans to participate in the US presidential election, as well as two senators and four representatives for Congress.

On the other hand, the governor described legislation HR 2070, drafted by Congressmen Velázquez and Ocasio Cortez, as one that ignores the results of the yes or no state consultation. He argued that the measure is a bureaucratic process with no deadline for resolution, arguing that it includes options that Puerto Rico’s voters have already rejected.

During his presentation, Pierluisi compared the status of the island to other cases in which Congress had to determine its position on civil rights conflicts.

“Today we choose to be on the right side of history, defend the principles of democracy, fight for equality and respect the will of the people of Puerto Rico. The time for excuses – that Congress doesn’t intervene, that neither option had a majority, or that Puerto Ricans needed consensus – is over. Members of Congress can no longer hide behind support for self-determination because our people spoke with their voices and chose a state. And in a democracy, the majority wins, ”said the governor.

He added that the Velázquez and Ocasio Cortez project does not respond to Puerto Rico’s self-determination, contrary to what is stated in the title of the legislation.

Project 2070, ironically called the Law of Free Determination of Puerto Rico and is the furthest from the said self-determination. It is an example of colonialism. It not only ignores the voice of Puerto Rican citizens, but tries Puerto Ricans to do the right thing. process by which to determine their status. That is not self-determination, it is an imposition, “he said.

“The legislation they propose is also non-binding, meaning that after the island goes through the complex process proposed by the measure, Congress can endorse or reject the option that the people choose,” he added.

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