On Tuesday, October 23, 2007, the Natural Resources Committee will mark up HR 900, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007. Introduced by Congressman José Serrano and 129 others, including Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Chairman Nick Rahall, and 22 Members of the Committee, the bill would implement the self-determination process recommended by the 2005 Report by the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status. During Tuesday’s markup, Chairman Rahall will offer an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute that would implement, in a simplified manner, the purposes of HR 900.

As the leading Democratic candidate to become Puerto Rico’s next Resident Commissioner in Congress, I respectfully ask that you support this amendment.

The legislation before the Committee would provide the people of Puerto Rico with the opportunity to choose between maintaining our current political status with the United States and opting for a constitutionally viable permanent non-territorial status in a Congressionally sanctioned plebiscite. Nothing more, nothing less.

As you probably know, Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since 1898 – significantly longer than any other in our Nation’s history. Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917. From the trenches of the Marne, to the beaches of Normandy; from the Han Ton River to the hills of Nam Dong; from the mountains of Tora Bora to the village of An-Nasariyah, thousands of Puerto Rico’s best have valiantly fought in the defense of our Nation. Many have paid the ultimate price, including 68 in the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet, these men and women who so gallantly were willing to serve and give up their lives in the defense of the values of liberty, justice and democracy for which our great Nation stands for, were not even able to vote for their Commander- in-Chief and cannot participate fully in our Nation’s democratic process. This issue clearly requires immediate Congressional action.

On the other hand, it is also anticipated that other amendments, particularly one following HR 1230, the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2007, may be offered. I respectfully ask that you follow Chairman Rahall’s lead and oppose this or any other amendment – or poison pill, if you will – that might be introduced with the sole purpose of creating confusion and denying the 4 million U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico our inherent right to resolve our century-old territorial status dilemma.

Congress, and we Democrats in particular, have a golden opportunity to set forth a process that could lead to the final resolution of Puerto Rico’s political status quandary. I believe that, after 109 years under the U.S. flag and 90 years as U.S. citizens, we have more than earned that right.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to working with you and, God willing, serving with you in the 111th Congress.

Sincerely,