Puerto Rico Congresswoman demands Congressional action on statehood

Puerto Rico’s representative to Congress, Jenniffer González-Colón, spoke on the House Floor on June 23, in regards to Puerto Rican statehood. She spoke regarding the plebiscite that was recently held, encouraging Congress to listen to the Puerto Rican people when, “The American citizens of Puerto Rico overwhelmingly voted in favor of becoming the 51st State of our great Nation. This is the second time in the past five years where [her] constituents have expressed their will to join their fellow American citizens as equals in our Union.”

Her speech continues with a promise to “soon… introduce legislation to set forth the terms of admission for the new State of Puerto Rico,” and acknowledges the large number of Puerto Ricans who have fought and died for the United States, even though they were not seen as equals by the country they were defending. “The people of Puerto Rico have, in war and peace, made countless contributions to [the] nation. They have fought in every conflict since the Great War,” and even before there was a United States to be a part of, Puerto Ricans fought alongside the colonists in the Revolutionary War.

Congresswoman Gonzalez-Colon finished her speech by addressing the Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, and with the statement, “Mr. Speaker, my constituents have spoken and they deserve Congress’ response.”

It is impossible to predict the future, but with many people, including Congresswoman Gonzalez-Colon, working together to fight for the people of Puerto Rico and their interests, many are hopeful about receiving the statehood status they want and deserve.