Soto Statement on US Department of Justice Analysis of H.R. 1522, the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act
The analysis comes before the second legislative hearing on the bill this Wednesday, June 16, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) released the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) analysis of Reps. Darren Soto (D-FL) and Jenniffer González Colón's (R-PR) bill, H.R. 1522, the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act. Rep. Soto's statement on the analysis is below.
"As we prepare for the second legislative hearing to discuss H.R. 1522, the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act, it is encouraging to see the Department of Justice support our proposal to give American citizens in Puerto Rico the opportunity to decide their own fate. I am also thankful that they offered specific recommendations for improvements, which we will take into consideration as we work to perfect our bill. Our intentions have always been to honor the will of the Puerto Rican people living on the Island and give them the power to decide on their status, rather than make binding choices without their input or priorities in mind. I look forward to listening to our witnesses during Wednesday's hearing and getting closer to finding a solution for our brothers and sisters on the Island."
On Wednesday, June 16, 2021, the Natural Resources Committee will hold its second legislative hearing of the 117th Congress on the two bills proposed to determine the future of Puerto Rico's political status.