Pedro Pierluisi Quotes

Pedro Pierluisi — American Politician born on April 26, 1959,

Pedro Rafael Pierluisi Urrutia is a Puerto Rican lawyer and politician affiliated with the New Progressive Party and with the Democratic Party. Since 2009, he has served as Puerto Rico's resident commissioner to the United States Congress... (wikipedia)

The government of Puerto Rico has every right to hold a plebiscite, to consult the people of Puerto Rico regarding their wishes. But the truth is that for a change in the status of Puerto Rico to happen, you need both Congress and Puerto Rico agreeing to it.

After four centuries of Spanish rule, Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States in 1898. Residents were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917, and the federal government has allowed Puerto Rico to exercise authority over its local affairs in a manner similar to the 50 states.

Puerto Rico loses out on billions of dollars annually because it is treated unequally under a range of federal programs, including tax credits available to millions of households in the States that do not pay federal income taxes.

Puerto Rico has two divergent paths forward. After a reasonable transition period, it could become a state. Or it can become a sovereign nation.

A territory cannot become a state or a nation unless Congress approves legislation and the president signs it.