Vol. 3 No. 24 Para ver este documento en español, oprima aquí. "WHAT WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND IS WHY, AFTER 100 YEARS OF U.S. RULE, WE ARE NOT AFFORDED THE SAME RESPECT AS EVERY OTHER U.S. CITIZEN" Understanding U.S. Citizenship Issues   Gov. Pedro Rossello Announced On June 1 That He Will Not Seek A Third Term. "I have served my people, and now I must serve my family," said Rossello, wearing a star-shaped lapel pin representing the 51st star he tried to put on the U.S. flag. A virtual unknown before his election, Rossello dazzled colleagues with sweeping reforms and plans to "reinvent government." He resurrected the island's moribund statehood movement, turning campaign rallies into explosive celebrations of Americana and pushing statehood bills in the Congress. He passionately argued that Puerto Rico's "commonwealth" arrangement was undemocratic because, while its 3.8 million people are U.S. citizens and can be drafted into the military, they cannot vote for the U.S. Congress or president. Although the 54-year-old Yale-educated pediatrician did not discuss future plans, he is a close adviser to Vice President Al Gore, and there is speculation that he might be offered a Cabinet position should Gore win the presidency. Puerto Rico Searches for Its Future Congress has never officially sanctioned a referendum on the island, a means by which true sentiment for or against statehood could be measured. The waters have always been muddied by absurd, impossible status definitions advanced by over-promising political parties. The water ran muddy again on Dec. 13. It's terribly wrong to continue to block Puerto Rico from even taking the first step, to never allow the American citizens of the island to make a clear choice. It is past time for Congress to fulfill its constitutional obligation to Puerto Rico and give the voters a chance to exercise their right to self-determination. ­Myrna Torres, NEWSDAY   ROSSELLÓ ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION    "Is Congress Willing To Offer Permanent Union And Irrevocable Citizenship? How Can This Be Achieved According To The United States Constitution?" Fonalledas Asks Senators STOP ENDANGERING AMERICAN CITIZENS by Alcides Ortiz  VIEQUES CHRONOLOGY Vieques Editorials Rosselló to Congress: Don't Wash Hands of Puerto Rico Status Responsibility Federal Court Says Congress Decides Citizenship, Not Puerto Rico White House: "None Of The Above" Win Not A Clear Status Choice Vote Said To Give Little Guidance On Ultimate Outcome RELATED WEBSITES: www.pnp.org www.puertoricousa.com www.puertorico51.org www.prstatehood.com  SENATE HEARINGS - TRANSCRIPT Full Text of All Statements PUT COMMONWEALTH DEFINITION IN WRITING, LANDRIEU TELLS ACEVEDO-VILÁ Puerto Rico Leaders Demand To Know Political Status Options; Senators Reply That Some Want 'Free Lunch' Status Zogby Poll Finds Puerto Rican Voters Rejected Commonwealth, Preferred Statehood In 1998 Plebiscite Puerto Rico Herald Calls On Congress To Pass Federal Plebiscite Legislation Puerto Rico Vote Not a Flop Dick Thornburgh Rejecting Commonwealth And Favoring Statehood, Island Voters Leave Status Issue Up To Washington Neftali Fuster On Status: Who's Telling What To Whom? JM Garcia Passalaqua, The San Juan Star Nation's Governors Call on Congress to Pass Puerto Rico Self-Determination Legislation IMPLICATIONS OF THE PUERTO RICO POLITICAL STATUS PLEBISCITE, ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Write your Member of Congress in Support of Puerto Rico Self-Determination! House of Rep. Member Web Sites Senate Member Web Sites   Write Your Representative Write your Senator   Under statehood all Puerto Ricans would have been American taxpayers have forked over wealthier today, and the Commonwealth is costing them $6,000.00 more every year! subsidizing the Puerto Rico Commonwealth, and it's costing them $22,821,918.52 more each and every day of the year!   PUERTO RICO SELF-DETERMINATION Puerto Ricans Earning Their Own Way Puerto Rico Paying Its Own Way Self-Determination Legislation | Puerto Rico Herald Home Newsstand | Puerto Rico | U.S. Government | Archives Search | Mailing List | Contact Us | Feedback