Petición de Firmas – Carta al Congreso Reclamando la Admisión de Puerto Rico como Estado

12/17/2020 | Filed under: Anotaciones para la Campaña Estadista - Pompy González,Estadidad | Posted by: Francisco

Petición de Firmas – Carta al Congreso Reclamando la Admisión de Puerto Rico como Estado

A los líderes de organizaciones estadistas de Puerto Rico.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTBh_2c-YlKkX8NG_Gs7077nHSm_mIokvEwBEPVA_lxqRspA/viewform

A continuación podrán leer la carta que estaremos circulando al Congreso y al Presidente Electo este próximo jueves, 17 de diciembre del 2020. Los invitamos a leer la carta y si están de acuerdo con su mensaje a unirse a como signatarios. Para unirse por favor llenar el formulario que se encuentra al final de esta página. La fecha limite para incluir su firma en la carta será miércoles, 16 de diciembre a la 6:00pm. Si tiene alguna pregunta al respecto no dude en comunicarse con: glaws@prstatehoodcouncil.org.

George H. Laws GarciaExecutive DirectorPuerto Rico Statehood CouncilPhone: 301-798-5051Cell: 202-285-5742
Email: glaws@prstatehoodcouncil.orgWeb: www.PR51st.com

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Dear [President Elect/Senator/ Representative],

We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, urge Congress to respect the will of the majority of Puerto Rico’s voters who have requested admission as a state of the Union. Last month, for the first time in history, voters on the island were asked whether “Puerto Rico should be immediately admitted into the Union as a state” and 52 percent of voters, over 620,000, said “YES.” Now that Puerto Rico has spoken, Congress must begin acting on that mandate immediately.

Puerto Rico has lived under the U.S. flag for over 120 years, and for over 100 years Puerto Ricans have been proud American citizens. Yet, as the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed, and the enactment of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) further demonstrated, Puerto Rico remains subject to the plenary powers of Congress under the territorial clause of the U.S. Constitution.

America’s core founding value of «government by consent of the governed» has still not yet been applied to the more than 3 million U.S. citizens who live in Puerto Rico. As a result, island residents are being deprived of full equality under the law and full democracy in their government at both the local and federal levels.

This denial of equality and democracy in Puerto Rico has dire consequences for the Island, and for America as a whole:

• Disenfranchised citizenry with limited non-voting representation in the U.S. House, no representation in the U.S. Senate and no voting rights for President;

• Lack of accountability and representation at the federal level to meet Puerto Rico’s needs, goals and aspirations;

• Lower quality of life for island residents in critical areas including healthcare, nutrition, education, transportation, environment, and security;

• Unequal playing field that limits economic development opportunities, promotes dependency, and denies clarity on long term economic development direction;

• Underdeveloped interstate commerce and international trade potential;

• Massive population exodus because relocation is the only way to enjoy the full benefits of U.S. citizenship, separating families and communities;

• Large deficits and debt spending, and fiscal crisis due to ease of borrowing and underinvestment by the federal government;

• Slow and inefficient response and recovery to natural disasters;

• Loss of America’s moral standing and credibility as a promoter of democratic governance at the global level; and,

• Persistence of an unaccountable and non-representative form of governance under the U.S. Constitution that has weakened American democratic intuitions and made them more vulnerable.

Even though Congress has paid increasing amounts of attention to Puerto Rico in the last decade due to the various crises that the island has faced, it has taken a sporadic and piecemeal approach. While this may temporarily alleviate some issues, it will never allow the development of a coherent and long-term policy framework necessary to maximize Puerto Rico’s potential. Failure to recognize how the economic, fiscal, social and governance challenges of Puerto Rico are interrelated to the territorial status presents a real threat to the island’s long-term recovery. That is why the resolution of Puerto Rico’s ultimate political status has to be the central element of any comprehensive effort to help the island.

The majority of Puerto Ricans, like all Americans, want to be treated equally under the law and to have an equal voice in the government that regulates their lives. Their vote on November 3rd confirms that an absolute majority of U.S. citizens on the island favor statehood, but only Congress has the power to act on the clearly and democratically expressed will of the Puerto Rican people.

Our organizations represent individuals and communities from across the island and in the mainland U.S. We come from all races, religions and socioeconomic backgrounds. What unites us is that we see the struggle for Puerto Rico statehood as part of the long trajectory of citizen-led movements that have made America a more perfect Union. We also know that we are not alone, since recent national polls have shown that the majority of Americans stateside also favor Puerto Rico statehood.

As you prepare for the [Biden Administration / 117th Congress], we urge you to stand for our shared American values of democracy and equality. America must respect and act on the legitimate call for equal rights and responsibilities by its fellow citizens in Puerto Rico.

A los líderes de organizaciones estadistas de Puerto Rico.

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Aqui esta el enlace para ver la carta. Lo invito a que la lea y que participe como signatario si esta de acuedo con su contenido.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTBh_2c-YlKkX8NG_Gs7077nHSm_mIokvEwBEPVA_lxqRspA/viewform