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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION 164

 
2    WHEREAS, In 1898, Puerto Rico became a United States
3territory; persons born in Puerto Rico have been granted U.S.
4citizenship since 1917; the territory of Puerto Rico has a
5population of more than 3.4 million people; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The territory has an insular government that,
7subject to federal law, exercises authority similar to that
8possessed by the governments of the several states; and
 
9    WHEREAS, U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico are not treated
10equally under federal law with citizens in the states and do
11not have representation in their national government, other
12than that provided by a sole Resident Commissioner who can only
13vote in committees of the House of Representatives to which she
14or he is assigned; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Puerto Rico is treated as a state for purposes of
16most laws but is not treated equally with the states under
17dozens of statutes, including some providing for major health
18care and other programs for individuals with critical needs and
19in a number of revenue measures; and
 
20    WHEREAS, The limitations of, and treatment under territory
21status, has left Puerto Rico under-developed and has

 

 

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1substantially contributed to its economy being weak for four
2decades and in depression for the last decade; and
 
3    WHEREAS, It has been the longstanding policy of the United
4States that U.S. citizens of the territory can determine
5whether it should eventually become a state or independent
6nation; and
 
7    WHEREAS, An overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens
8residing in Puerto Rico want to replace territory status with a
9permanent form of government that provides for equality and for
10democratic representation in the making of their national laws;
11and
 
12    WHEREAS, Puerto Rico held a public election on the question
13of statehood in 2012; 54% of voters rejected territory status,
14and 61% of those voters chose U.S. statehood over the other
15options of independence, and nationhood in free association
16with the United States; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Process Act
18(H.R.727) was introduced into the 114th Congress; however no
19actions were taken before the expiration of that Congress at
20the end of 2016; therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE

 

 

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1HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
2encourage the 115th Congress, to introduce and pass new
3legislation on the admission of Puerto Rico as the 51st state;
4and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
6presented to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul
7Ryan, the Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, the Governor
8of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, and the current Resident
9Commissioner, Jenniffer Gonzalez.