Serrano Welcomes Commissioner-Elect Fortuño to Congress,

Pair Discuss Puerto Rico’s Future

Washington, DC
, November 17, 2004—Today, Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY), the most senior Member of Congress of Puerto Rican descent, welcomed the newly-elected Puerto Rican Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño (R-PR) to Congress.  The two met in Serrano’s congressional office at the

Rayburn

House

Office

Building

.

“It is a great pleasure to welcome Luis Fortuño to Congress,” said Serrano.  “He is an impressive and energetic young man with an unquestionable commitment to
Puerto Rico
’s advancement, and I am looking forward to working with him in a bi-partisan spirit to help Puerto Rican communities both here and on the island.  Luis’s election opens a new chapter in Puerto Rican history.  For the first time, we will have a Republican Resident Commissioner who believes in ending
Puerto Rico
’s colonial status.  Perhaps with his victory, the stars might be aligning for resolving this issue once and for all.”

Fortuño and Serrano swapped stories about their mutual Mayagüez roots and spoke of their shared support for reexamining
Puerto Rico
’s status.  Since 1952,
Puerto Rico
has had a temporary hybrid political status as a “state in free association” with the .  While Puerto Ricans are US citizens whose young men and women have fought and died in the US military, they are unable to vote for US President, and don’t have voting representation in Congress.  Congressman Serrano has long opposed this situation, arguing that it is a violation of basic American principles of democracy and human rights.

“The current status offends me as a Puerto Rican, but it offends me more as an American,” Serrano said during the meeting today.  “The shouldn’t have colonies.  Nearly four million citizens in
Puerto Rico
can’t vote for their national government.  This current status truly is a travesty of American democracy.” 

Resident Commissioner-Elect Fortuño agreed, expressing his interest in working with Serrano to push for ending the current status quo.

Photos of the meeting are available upon request.

# # #

Congressman Serrano has represented the
Bronx
in Congress since 1990.  He is the only Member of Congress from
New York City
on the House Appropriations Committee, and serves as the ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee that funds the Commerce, Justice, and State Department.  Serrano  is the most senior Member of Congress of Puerto Rican descent and served as Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus from 1993-94.