85S12373 KSM-D

By: Isaac H.R. No. 221

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, In the plebiscite conducted in June 2017, Puerto Ricans voted overwhelmingly in favor of statehood for the U.S. territory; and

WHEREAS, The United States acquired Puerto Rico in 1898, following the Spanish-American War, and the Jones Act of 1917 conferred U.S. citizenship on all Puerto Ricans; in 1952, Puerto Rico ratified a constitution, subsequently approved by the U.S. Congress, which states, "We consider as determining factors in our life our citizenship of the United States of America and our aspiration continually to enrich our democratic heritage in the individual and collective enjoyment of its rights and privileges; our loyalty to the principles of the Federal Constitution . . ."; and

WHEREAS, Over the past century, Puerto Ricans have fought for America in every war, and the territory is extremely well represented in our armed forces today; and

WHEREAS, In the June plebiscite, over 97 percent of the voters endorsed statehood; while some of the 2.2 million registered voters joined an organized boycott, turnout still reached approximately 25 percent, an impressive rate for a single-issue, nonbinding referendum; and

WHEREAS, Puerto Rican voters have expressed tremendous support for statehood, and the U.S. Congress should respect the clear results of the democratic process; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby urge the United States Congress to support statehood for Puerto Rico; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the chief clerk forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.