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October 19, 2007

UPDATE: Tuesday, October 23, the House Natural Resources Committee approved H.R. 900 by a voice vote. The bill was amended, but Eagle Forum remains opposed to its passage. A floor vote has not been scheduled at this time, but we should continue making Members of Congress aware of this dangerous bill.

Will the U.S. Sew a Fifty-first Star onto the Flag? Urge your Representative to vote NO on the Puerto Rico statehood bill! Last month, the Senate failed to pass the D.C. Voting Rights Act of 2007, S. 1257, which would have given full voting rights to the D.C. delegate. Since this attempt to add a permanent Democrat vote failed, a renewed energy to push legislation through to make Puerto Rico a U.S. state has emerged in the House of Representatives! Sponsored by Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY-16), the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007, H.R. 900, would set up two plebiscites which would effectively deceive Puerto Ricans into voting for statehood. In the first plebiscite, Puerto Ricans would be given the choice between remaining a U.S. territory and “pursuing a constitutionally viable permanent non-territorial status.” If the majority votes to maintain the status quo, this bill would require that Puerto Rico vote on this issue every eight years. If the majority votes to “pursue non-territorial status,” a second plebiscite would be held where Puerto Ricans would choose either statehood or independence—the status quo of “U.S. territory” would not even be an option! If Puerto Rico were added as a U.S. state: The U.S. would transform, overnight, into a bilingual nation. At least half of Puerto Ricans do not speak English, the language of our U.S. Constitution and founding documents. The Washington Times article, "Puerto Rican statehood," analyzes all the implications of adding a foreign language-speaking state to the Union. It would bring immediate demands for massive federal spending. The average income of Puerto Ricans is less than half that of our poorest state, and infrastructure and the environment are far below American standards. Puerto Rico is already a democracy. Despite the deceptive title of the bill, Puerto Rico already has an elected government and exists as a self-governed commonwealth of the U.S. Statehood would give Puerto Rico more congressional representation than 25 of our 50 states! It would inevitably give Democrats two additional U.S. Senators and 6 to 8 additional Members of the House. The U.S. is just asking for trouble with this bill, given that the last time this issue was voted on in Puerto Rico, over half of the people opposed statehood! Take Action H.R. 900 is expected to be marked up in the House Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday, October 23rd. Please call your Representatives and tell them to vote NO on H.R. 900! Call Your Representatives Today! Capitol Switchboard: (202)-224-3121 Further Reading: Phyllis Schlafly Column: Deceitful Tactics Used To Make Puerto Rico A State Quick Topic: English Language

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