Congressional hearing on self-determination for Puerto Rico--bill for referendum has 150 sponsors

June 29, 6:00 PMBoston Progressive ExaminerMichael Richardson

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U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall [D-WV] held hearing             Official photo

Last week some of the most interesting political testimony on Capitol Hill was from the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources where for almost three hours the topic was self-determination for Puerto Rico.

The full committee heard testimony on the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009, H.R. 2499, a resolution, "To provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico."

Chair Nick J. Rahall [D-WV] opened the session indicating his full support for self-determination by Puerto Rico. Rahall reviewed a 111-year history of America's oldest colony, acquired by conquest during the Spanish-American War.

Rahall noted that the status of Puerto Rico was not resolved despite over 40 bills to clarify the matter and a dozen congressional hearings on the topic. Rahall also recited the three plebiscites and one referendum on the matter of Puerto Rico's national status and still no ultimate achievement in an outcome.

President George Bush's recent White House Task Force on the matter also failed to bring resolution to the unresolved status of the island.

Rahall said that H.R. 2499 would provide an "unambiguous path" to self-determination which Rahall called "a basic right."

Two members of Congress also testified in favor of the Puerto Rico Democracy Act, Representative Dan Burton [R-IN] and Alan Grayson [D-FL].

Puerto Rico's Governor Luis Fortuno called the present unresolved status "abhorrent" because it deprived U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico of a presidential vote.

Former Governor Carlos Romero-Barcelo (1977-1982) said that for most of Puerto Rico's territorial status with the United States it was a "colony by conquest" however, following adoption of Commonwealth status, it became a "colony by consent" but remained a colony.

Also making statements in support of self-determination for Puerto Rico were delegates from the Marianas Islands, American Samoa, and Guam.

Hector Ferrer Rios of Puerto Rico's Popular Democratic Party also spoke in favor of self-determination but was concerned that H.R. 2499 was biased in favor of statehood and urged the committee to reword the resolution. Ruben Berrios-Martinez of the Puerto Rican Independence Party said self-determination was a "moral and legal right" and was one of the "inalienable rights" enjoyed under the U.S. Constitution.

The self-determination resolution has 150 co-sponsors and appears headed to the House floor for a vote in this session of Congress.

Three years ago, Gregorio Igartua de la Rosa brought suit over the deprivation of the presidential vote for U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico. After a split decision in the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals and a powerful dissenting opinion by U.S. Circuit Judge Juan Torruella, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. Igartua then took the matter to Organization of American States international court where the matter is still pending.

No date has been scheduled for a vote on H.R. 2499 by the committee.

To view hearing testimony:  http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=27&extmode=view&extid=268