Bill Text: NJ AR131 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges President and US Congress take action to admit Puerto Rico as state.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-12-17 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State Government Committee [AR131 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR131-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANGEL FUENTES
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman VINCENT PRIETO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblywoman ANGELICA M. JIMENEZ
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Caride
SYNOPSIS
Urges President and US Congress take action to admit Puerto Rico as state.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the President and the Congress of the United States to take action to admit the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to the Union as a state.
Whereas, The United States of America is a free and democratic republic and all of its citizens should be entitled with the right to pursue the American dream; and
Whereas, Every resident of the Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico (Free Associated State of Puerto Rico) or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a United States citizen, having gained citizenship through the federal Jones-Shafroth Act of March 2, 1917; and
Whereas, The approximately four million residents of Puerto Rico are United States citizens, but are not allowed to fully participate in the democratic process of their nation, while almost five million Puerto Ricans living in the fifty United States states have full voting rights; and
Whereas, Many United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico have served, and continue to serve our country in the United States military, always responding to the call of defending our Nation in the name of liberty and willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to maintain our freedom; and
Whereas, In a referendum on November 6, 2012, more than 800,000 Puerto Rican voters said they want the island to become the 51st state of the Union, which is 61 percent of voters who cast ballots on that question; and
Whereas, For many years the people of the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have enjoyed close and friendly business, personal, and cultural relationships; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the President and Congress of the United States to take action to admit the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to the Union as a state.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the Clerk of the General Assembly shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Senate Majority Leader, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution respectfully urges the President and the Congress of the United States to take appropriate steps towards admitting the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to the Union as the 51st state.
Throughout history, the United States citizens of Puerto Rico have responded to the call of defending our Nation in the name of freedom, by serving in the military. Puerto Ricans are United States citizens and pledge allegiance to the United States flag. However, Puerto Ricans residing in Puerto Rico are not allowed to vote for President, while the Puerto Ricans living in the fifty United States states have full voting rights. Statehood is also essential for Puerto Rico's social and economic growth.
