Puerto Rico Voted Now Congress Must Act - Support H.R. 2000
Channel: Radio Esfuerzo Estadista Tv
Date: 2013-07-20

As recent as April 2010 the U.S. House of Representatives debated and approved legislation (H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act) for a federally sanctioned plebiscite so that the U.S. Citizens of Puerto Rico could finally decide the territory's future and resolve the century old question of their ultimate political status in relationship with the U.S. This video features a compilation of clips from the debate that demonstrate the strong bi-partisan support in Congress for finding a resolution to this issue which strikes at the heart of American Democracy. The Senate failed to act on the House passed bill, so the Government of Puerto Rico moved ahead and held a locally sponsored two part plebiscite on the island's future. On November 6, 2012 voters in Puerto Rico were asked first if they want to continue under the current territory status or not, and second which one of the non-territory options they prefer: statehood, independence and nationhood in free association with the U.S. The results were historic with 54% of voters rejecting the undemocratic territory status and 61% expressing a preference for statehood among the non-territorial status options. 

In response to these plebiscite results Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi introduced H.R. 2000, the Puerto Rico Status Resolution Act on May 15, 2013. The bill, which has broad bi-partisan support, will provide for a federally authorized vote in Puerto Rico to ratify the Island's desire for statehood and, if a majority of voters affirm it, it describes the steps that the President and Congress shall take to move the statehood admission process forward. 

The U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico voted and now Congress must act. Everyone who believes in American Democracy, Citizen Equality, Government by the Consent of the Governed, and any of the core principles that make America great should contact their members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor and support the passage of H.R. 2000. 

Links:
http://www.hr2000pr.com/en/

https://www.cosponsor.gov/details/hr2000-113