Anibal Acevedo-Vila

Mr. Speaker, the political status of Puerto Rico, and its relationship with the United States, is of great importance to the people of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has enjoyed Commonwealth status since 1952. One of the virtues of Commonwealth is precisely the fact that it possesses the flexibility to change the political status of Puerto Rico vis-a-vis the U.S., either within the framework of Commonwealth, or if the people choose other status options such as Statehood or Independence. Of course, Puerto Rico would work with the U.S. Congress towards implementing whichever option the people choose.

Since its creation, Commonwealth has been the preferred status option among the people of Puerto Rico. However, the people of Puerto Rico have failed in its previous efforts to improve Commonwealth because the different initiatives in Puerto Rico, as well as in this Congress, to deal with the status issue have not translated into concrete actions to implement the will of the people of Puerto Rico. Experience has shown that in order to have a true exercise of self-determination, we must work hard at achieving consensus among the people of Puerto Rico as to the process towards self-determination, in spite of our differences with regard to individual status preferences.

Hence, the Legislature of Puerto Rico approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 107 on July 22, 2004 which sets forth the public policy of said body that a Constitutional Assembly on Status is the preferred approach through which to exercise self-determination concerning the status of Puerto Rico and acknowledges these past failed attempts to deal with the status issue, recognizes the consensus among the people of Puerto Rico to effectively exercise their right to self- determination, and adopts the public policy that the Constitutional Assembly on Status is the best approach through which to exercise self- determination.

Accordingly, the Legislature of Puerto Rico has agreed to study and prepare legislation for the people to decide whether the Constitutional Assembly on Status is their preferred mechanism to deal with the status issue. Other mechanisms will be presented to the people. Thus the people will ultimately choose their preferred process. The legislation will also include the mechanisms through which delegates to the Assembly are elected, and will provide for its organization, if it is the option favored by voters.

At the same time, Senate Concurrent Resolution 107 orders the Puerto Rico Senate and

House Judiciary Committees to prepare a study and report with bills for the celebration of a referendum regarding the Constitutional Assembly, authorization of funds, and related matters. Such bills would guarantee the effective participation of representatives of the political parties and civil society; that the proposals to be considered by the people must stem from the principle of sovereignty in the future relationship of Puerto Rico and must be defined as being outside of the Territorial Clause of the U.S. Constitution; that the Constitutional Assembly must have attributes of deliberation and negotiation vis-a-vis the U.S. Government; and that every determination by the Assembly must be subject to ratification by the people through a referendum. The Committees shall issue its report by December 31, 2004, and it will thus be submitted for the consideration of the next Legislative Session.

Mr. Speaker, the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico and I personally support the creation of a Constitutional Assembly on Status in order to deal with the status issue because it embodies the principle that it is the people of Puerto Rico who must decide their preferred political status, and that the process should be initiated in Puerto Rico. Therefore, we have made a commitment to initiate this process during the first half of 2005. At the same time, we recognize that even though this process is to be initiated in Puerto Rico, it cannot and should not be isolated from Washington. That is why, early in the process, Senate Concurrent Resolution 107 mandates notifying the White House, the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status and the U.S. Congress of said Resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to, as requested by the Puerto Rico Legislature and in compliance with Article 6 of Senate Concurrent Resolution 107, notify this Congress of said Resolution by placing the English-language translation of Senate Concurrent Resolution 107, along with its certification, into the Record at this time. I am also sending a copy of Senate Concurrent Resolution, and its certification, to the U.S. Senate, the President of the United States, the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status, and the United Nations' Special Committee on Decolonization.

Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the people of Puerto Rico will soon be able to truly exercise their right to self-determination in a meaningful manner, one in which the outcome will be a product of the democratic tradition we so dearly cherish.

Concurrent Resolution 107

(To consign the public policy of the Legislature of Puerto Rico in

facing and attending to the urgent need to review the political

relations between Puerto Rico and the United States through a Constitutional Assembly on Status elected by the people in the exercise

of the natural right to self-determination and sovereignty, and to

initiate its organizational process)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5042. This legislation is an important step to provide access to stable and quality education for the dependents of our federal employees who are assigned to Puerto Rico. This is a non-controversial bill that will allow the dependents of USDA Forest Service employees to receive convenient, reliable and high quality education when assigned to Puerto Rico.

Until Naval Station Roosevelt Road's closure earlier this year, dependents of Forest Service employees who work at both the Caribbean National Forest and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF) had attended the DOD Educational Authority (DODEA) schools at NSRR, and the Forest Service reimbursed DODEA for the expense of educating its staff's dependents.

The closest DODEA school, at Fort Buchanan, is approximately a 1 to 1\1/2\ hour commute each way from their previous school, and therefore is not a convenient or suitable alternative. Most of the classes taught in Puerto Rico's public schools are in Spanish, and are not acceptable alternatives to English-based education for these federal employee dependents. Private schools, while close by, are an expensive cost to federal employees, and though other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Justice, the Federal Aviation Administration and others have authority to reimburse their staff for educational expenses incurred by their dependents at private schools while assigned to Puerto Rico, the Forest Service has no similar authorization.

As a result, federal Forest Service employees assigned to Puerto Rico are faced with limited choices and opportunities for the continuing education of their dependents. This legislation will simply provide authorization to the Forest Service to reimburse its staff for educational expenses incurred by their dependents' when assigned to Puerto Rico.

This bill is budget neutral, as it caps the Forest Service's reimbursement authority to not exceed the per-child amount previously reimbursed to the DODEA. The Forest Service supports this legislation.

I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to vote yes on this important fix to

allow the dependents of federal employees working for the Forest Service to receive the highest educational experience.

In closing, I would like to thank Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, ranking member Charles Stenholm, and the committee staff of their assistance in quickly sheparding this bill through their committee and to the floor. I appreciate their help in addressing this important measure.

I urge my fellow members to support this measure, and to ensure that the dependents of our dedicated and professional Forest Service employees in Puerto Rico maintain convenient access to quality education.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 4754; Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. This bill includes a very important amendment that will address the inaccessibility to affordable capital for small businesses. This bill also includes important funding increases for the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

One of the biggest problems that small businesses in Puerto Rico and on the mainland face is access to affordable capital. The 7(a) loan program is the Small Business Administrations' core lending program and accounts for roughly 30 percent of all long-term small business borrowing in America. This public-private partnership provides important financing for our nation's small business at a good value for the American taxpayer. This means there can be more loans, more small businesses and greater job creation. These loans are the only source of affordable, long-term financing for many of our nation's small businesses. The continuation of this program is fundamental to a sound economic recovery.

The CJS Appropriations Act also includes $1.66 billion for the Drug Enforcement Administration. This represents a $77 million increase above the Fiscal Year '04 funding. These funds will go to keep drugs off our streets and out of the hands of our children. Additionally, it contains $870 million for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, representing a $43 million increase over fiscal 2004 funding. These necessary additions will provide for a safer society.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the passage of H.R. 4754.