Jenniffer González-Colón condemns the colonial imposition in Velázquez and Ocasio Cortez’s new bill

March 18, 2021 - Washington, D.C. – Puerto Rico's sole representative in Congress, Jenniffer González-Colón, condemned legislation unveiled today by Members representing other congressional districts, which seeks to ignore the Island's democratically-expressed will for statehood. The Congresswoman characterized the legislation as colonial and antidemocratic in nature, and an affront to the quest for civil rights that American citizens residing in Puerto Rico are fighting for.

"There is nothing more colonial in nature than imposing other's views over us. The legislation looks to delegate Puerto Rico's future to a select few, instead of allowing the majority to decide for themselves. Those who wish to silence the majoritarian vote and the will of the people of Puerto Rico are those that stand in the way of our future and progress. It is up to those of us who believe in Puerto Rico and our quest for equality to fight for what we deserve," said the Resident Commissioner.

In the last three referendums that have taken place in Puerto Rico, from 2012 to 2020, statehood has been the preferred status option. During the commemoration of the 104th anniversary of American citizenship being granted to Puerto Ricans, Representatives González-Colón and Darren Soto introduced legislation (H.R. 1522) to validate the expressed will of the people for statehood, which would have to be ratified by a majority of people living on the Island. This is the same process followed prior in the two most recently admitted states, Hawai'i and Alaska. The bill is cosponsored by 58 bipartisan Members of Congress. Yesterday, companion legislation was introduced in the Senate as well (S.780).

"Both chambers of Congress now have legislation before them to act on Puerto Rico's will, which is to admit the Island as a State. It should be up to the people, through their vote, to determine their future. This is not what the bill introduced by Velazquez and Ocasio Cortez does, which instead ignores the will already expressed by our people and intends to impose their own views upon us. A rule we follow in Congress is that no member legislates on issues outside of their corresponding district, at least not without the endorsement of the person duly elected by the voters of said district", added the Congresswoman.

"I am grateful for the interest to address and act upon the issue of the territorial status of Puerto Rico, which is why I invite, both of them and all of my colleagues from both parties, to not turn your back on our people, to not behave like the colonialism of the past, and to not ignore the fight for civil rights that we have undertaken in favor of the equality that can only be granted through statehood", said González Colón, who is in her second term in Congress and in the past two general elections has been the highest vote-getter on the Island.

The Resident Commissioner, who is the member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing the most constituents, 3.2 million versus the average 770,000, described the bill introduced by Velázquez and Ocasio Cortez as the antithesis of one of the most famous and profound quotes, over a century ago, stated by the President that saved the Union when he concluded his famous "Gettysburg Address" with "a government of the people, by the people, for the people". "It is the antithesis precisely because it removes the right of Puerto Ricans to choose their government; it removes their right to create a relationship with the United States that they deem fit; and it removes our people's right to having the power of making a binding decision on their future; because of this, this legislation is the antithesis of the very essence of American democracy.

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