As the House Natural Resources Committee holds a markup today on the Puerto Rico Status Act (H.R. 8393), Diaspora and other groups issued the following statement:
Though progress has been made, lack of hearings and the refusal to include details on critical issues falls short of the process and treatment Puerto Ricans are due
“Puerto Ricans deserve a fair, inclusive and transparent process to decide their future. We are proud that our work has helped advance the conversation around self-determination and that key improvements were made to recently drafted legislation as a result of our pressure. However, the lack of public hearings on a bill introduced only a few days ago and leadership’s insistence on blocking Democrats from introducing amendments that would provide Puerto Ricans with clear and full information make it difficult for many in our community to rally for this bill.
“Most concerning is that this five-day introduction-to-vote sprint sets an undemocratic precedent for how decolonization will be handled in the future. On top of no set of formal hearings on the future of a people, the committee is holding a markup and vote on the same day of a pre-announced, island-wide protest against power blackouts and a failed privatization scheme by the US-imposed fiscal board. This further exemplifies the disinterest in fully engaging those directly impacted. As many Puerto Ricans struggle with the lack of reliable electricity, Congress is taking away their power due to a process and bill that fall short of true decolonization.
“Because this bill and process ignore our community’s drumbeat for transparency and fairness, we cannot at this time support this legislation in its current form. While we don’t understand Leader Hoyer’s reasons to choose an exclusive process, crafted without the direct participation of the Puerto Rican people in the Island and across the Diaspora, we call on him to immediately change course and allow an open rule and for amendments to receive an up or down vote on the House floor. The Puerto Rican people, whom you rule, and the American people, whom you represent, deserve no less.
“Lastly, we must note that too many elected leaders and pundits have been weaponizing the issue of Puerto Rico’s self-determination for their own party’s agenda. The use of Puerto Rico as a political pawn should be resoundingly rejected by anyone committed to democracy and justice. We continue to fight to ensure that the Puerto Rican people are at the front and center of charting their future.”
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Alianza for Progress
CASA
Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora
LatinoJustice PRLDEF
Open Society Policy Center
Power 4 Puerto Rico Coalition
Puerto Rican Cultural Center - Chicago
Puerto Ricans in Minnesota (PRIM)
Vamos Puerto Rico