Ohio State Representative for the 56th District Dan Ramos has introduced a new resolution in the Ohio House of Representatives in support of Puerto Rico’s statehood. The measure, HCR 28, urges “…the Congress of the United States to take action towards admitting the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to the Union as a state.” State Representatives Letson, Foley, Hagan, R., Lundy, Fedor, Reece, Antonio, Milkovich, Boyce, McGregor and Gerberry appear as cosponsors of the measure, which has been assigned to the State and Local Government Committee.
Ohio State Representative Dan Ramos (D-56)
Dan Ramos had previously introduced a similar resolution in 2012, but that piece appears to have died without action by the Ohio legislature. Should this catch on, it could represent the beginning of a movement in state legislatures supporting the admission of Puerto Rico following the results of the 2012 plebiscite, where 54% rejected the status quo in the first question, and 61% of those who voted in the second question supported statehood over all the other options.
The full text of the resolution is as follows:
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To urge the Congress of the United States to take action towards admitting the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to the Union as a state.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE SENATE CONCURRING):
WHEREAS, The United States of America was founded on the ideal, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, that government derives its powers from the consent of the governed; and
WHEREAS, Every resident of the Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a United States citizen, having gained citizenship through the federal Jones-Shafroth Act of March 2, 1917; and
WHEREAS, The United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico pledge allegiance to the United States’ flag; and
WHEREAS, Many United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico have served, and continue to serve, our country in the United States military, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to maintain our freedom; and
WHEREAS, The United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico, through a referendum held on November 6, 2012, have withdrawn their consent to be governed as an unincorporated territory of the United States; and
WHEREAS, The United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico, through the same referendum, voiced their collective will and desire to be admitted into the Union as a state, including all rights and responsibilities thereto; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, respect the rights of self-governance through consent of the governed of our fellow United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, strongly urge, on behalf of our fellow citizens, that the United States Congress take swift action in response to the vote of the United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico and their call for a change in status and request for admission into the Union as a state; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, and the news media of Ohio.
