Anne Arundel Today

WASHINGTON, DC – On April 20, 2023, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered the following remarks at a press conference announcing the reintroduction of the Puerto Rico Status Act in the 118th Congress:

"I’ve got Congressman Soto here as the cheering squad. I am so pleased to be here with this bipartisan, extraordinary group of leaders from the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Enunciating one more time, as my friend John Lewis used to say, 'it’s good to be back.' 

"One more time, we’re expressing the values of our democracy, the values of self-determination, the values of respect for one another, wherever we may live. I’ve been Majority Leader twice, some years ago and just recently. And both times as Majority Leader, I’ve brought to the Floor a bill honoring the people of Puerto Rico and their democratic choice of their status. Not our imposition of status, not a colonial power, but their choice of what their status should be.

"So I am pleased to be here with my dear friend, Raúl Grijalva, the Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, Ranking Member now, but former Chairman, of the Committee that has jurisdiction over this issue.

"I’m pleased to be here with my friend Nydia Velázquez, who has worked so hard on behalf of the people of Puerto Rico. We differ, we differ, on the final result, the final decision. But that’s the people of Puerto Rico, not Nydia’s, you or mine, it’s the people of Puerto Rico. But what we agree on passionately is that America ought not to be a colonial power. That America ought not to impose on people. They need to make that choice.

"I’m pleased to be here with Darren Soto who has been such a leader in this. I’m pleased to be here with my dear, dear friend of many years, the Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi. He and I have worked very hard and tirelessly on making sure that the people of Puerto Rico have this choice.

"And I am pleased to be here with Jenniffer González-Colón. She and I have worked together. We are of different parties. But we are convicted of the fact that America means a choice. America means freedom. America means liberty. And therefore, the people of Puerto Rico ought to have a choice.

"And I am pleased to be here with Don Bacon, Congressman Bacon, and Congresswoman Salazar. Again, different parties, but the same principle of what America means to the world: the freedom to select your own destiny.

"So, I am pleased to be here. This [legislation] passed late last year, and we sent it to the Senate. And very frankly, I’ve had conversations with Senator Heinrich and Senator Manchin about this issue. And I am, as I have been since 1986, going to be working with as much energy and ability and passion as I can muster to make sure that the people of Puerto Rico have the right to choose their status, their destiny, their future. And I thank all of those who are here with us, I know we have a number of representatives of Puerto Rico, the shadow Senators, and others who are here as well. This is an effort that is worthy of America, thank you very much." 

Original source can be found here.