Bill Text: NJ AR272 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commemorates 100th year anniversary of granting United States citizenship to Puerto Ricans.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-06-22 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR272 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR272-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Commemorates 100th year anniversary of granting United States citizenship to Puerto Ricans.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution commemorating the 100th year anniversary of the granting of United States citizenship to Puerto Ricans.
Whereas, On March 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones-Shafroth Act, which granted United States citizenship to the people of Puerto Rico; and
Whereas, Under that law, Puerto Ricans born on the island were considered United States citizens by blood right, as the island's territorial status was that of an "unincorporated territory" and not a state; and
Whereas, With the passage of the Nationality Act of 1940, Congress and the President conferred birthright citizenship to persons born in Puerto Rico, as this law provided that the territory was part of the United States for citizenship purposes; and
Whereas, March of 2017 marks the 100th year anniversary of the granting of United States citizenship to Puerto Ricans; and
Whereas, This anniversary affords an opportunity to reflect upon the reality that the United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico are not granted the full rights of citizenship, such as the ability to vote in presidential elections and be represented by voting members in Congress; and
Whereas, But this anniversary also calls upon us to celebrate the deep ties between the United States and Puerto Rico, and the contributions that people of Puerto Rican descent have made to all facets of American culture and society; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House commemorates the 100th year anniversary of the granting of United States citizenship to Puerto Ricans, and celebrates the deep ties between the United States and Puerto Rico, and the contributions that people of Puerto Rican descent have made to all facets of American culture and society.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico in the United States House of Representatives and to each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
On March 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones-Shafroth Act, which granted United States citizenship to the people of Puerto Rico. Under that law, Puerto Ricans born on the island were considered U.S. citizens by blood right, as the island's territorial status was that of an "unincorporated territory" and not a state. With the passage of the Nationality Act of 1940, Congress and the President conferred birthright citizenship to persons born in Puerto Rico, as this law provided that the territory was part of the United States for citizenship purposes.
March of 2017 marks the 100th year anniversary of the granting of U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans. This anniversary affords an opportunity to reflect upon the reality that the U.S. citizens residing in Puerto Rico are not granted the full rights of citizenship, such as the ability to vote in presidential elections and be represented by voting members in Congress. But this anniversary also calls upon us to celebrate the deep ties between the United States and Puerto Rico, and the contributions that people of Puerto Rican descent have made to all facets of American culture and society.
