To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
En USA Mi Voto Cuenta
Dear [PRESIDENT/SENATOR/CONGRESSMEN(WOMEN)]:
I am a resident of [CITY], [STATE], to where I moved from Puerto Rico. As such, I have become part of the large and ever growing number of Puerto Ricans relocating into your [HOUSE DISTRIC/STATE], with the right to vote in Congressional and Presidential elections inherent in our American citizenship.
As you may know, many families move here from Puerto Rico in no small measure due to the hardships confronting the Island and the crisis that affect daily living in this United States territory. Over 3.5 million US Citizens living in Puerto Rico deal on a daily basis with the effects of a government debt which exceeds $72 billion dollars, and yet as a US territory, the Island is precluded from US Bankruptcy protection under Chapter 9, while US Federal Courts have ruled against Puerto Rico’s ability to establish its own bankruptcy code. Over 3.5 million US Citizens live in a US territory where unemployment is stagnant at 14%, almost 3 times as high as in the rest of our Nation. Over 3.5 million US Citizens and taxpayers face the effects of an 11% decrease in federal funding for Medicare while the reminder of the country enjoys a 3% increase in funding. Furthermore, US Citizens living in Puerto Rico pay more federal taxes than 6 states and we have proudly and valiantly served in the US Military in every conflict since the Great War.
The White House under Democratic and Republican presidencies, Members of Congress of both parties and my fellow Puerto Ricans on the Island have examined the issue and all agree that the long-term solutions to Puerto Rico’s economic and quality of life problems are tied to the resolution of our current colonial relationship with the United States. In November 2012, 54% of the voters in the General Elections voted AGAINST the current colonial status, and 61% voted for statehood as the preferred alternative to our current condition.
In light of these circumstances, my family and I are calling on your action as our [PRESIDENT/US SENATOR/US REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS/CANDIDATE] to actively address the resolution of Puerto Rico’s status. Our Call to Action is for you to support a decolonization process that emanate from the United States government and that is implemented immediately.
When the time comes in 2016 for our Presidential and Congressional votes to be cast, our family will examine your response in Congress to our request. We will grant due consideration to your actions on this matter as the single-most important issue by which our votes will be decided and for whom we will or will not vote. Therefore, we hope you will consider our family and the large and growing number of Puerto Ricans who will participate in the elections for its leaders.
Sincerely,
[SUPPORTER]
I am a resident of [CITY], [STATE], to where I moved from Puerto Rico. As such, I have become part of the large and ever growing number of Puerto Ricans relocating into your [HOUSE DISTRIC/STATE], with the right to vote in Congressional and Presidential elections inherent in our American citizenship.
As you may know, many families move here from Puerto Rico in no small measure due to the hardships confronting the Island and the crisis that affect daily living in this United States territory. Over 3.5 million US Citizens living in Puerto Rico deal on a daily basis with the effects of a government debt which exceeds $72 billion dollars, and yet as a US territory, the Island is precluded from US Bankruptcy protection under Chapter 9, while US Federal Courts have ruled against Puerto Rico’s ability to establish its own bankruptcy code. Over 3.5 million US Citizens live in a US territory where unemployment is stagnant at 14%, almost 3 times as high as in the rest of our Nation. Over 3.5 million US Citizens and taxpayers face the effects of an 11% decrease in federal funding for Medicare while the reminder of the country enjoys a 3% increase in funding. Furthermore, US Citizens living in Puerto Rico pay more federal taxes than 6 states and we have proudly and valiantly served in the US Military in every conflict since the Great War.
The White House under Democratic and Republican presidencies, Members of Congress of both parties and my fellow Puerto Ricans on the Island have examined the issue and all agree that the long-term solutions to Puerto Rico’s economic and quality of life problems are tied to the resolution of our current colonial relationship with the United States. In November 2012, 54% of the voters in the General Elections voted AGAINST the current colonial status, and 61% voted for statehood as the preferred alternative to our current condition.
In light of these circumstances, my family and I are calling on your action as our [PRESIDENT/US SENATOR/US REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS/CANDIDATE] to actively address the resolution of Puerto Rico’s status. Our Call to Action is for you to support a decolonization process that emanate from the United States government and that is implemented immediately.
When the time comes in 2016 for our Presidential and Congressional votes to be cast, our family will examine your response in Congress to our request. We will grant due consideration to your actions on this matter as the single-most important issue by which our votes will be decided and for whom we will or will not vote. Therefore, we hope you will consider our family and the large and growing number of Puerto Ricans who will participate in the elections for its leaders.
Sincerely,
[SUPPORTER]
Why is this important?
Dear friend:
Puerto Rico (PR) is experiencing one of the worst crisis in many years. When we objectively evaluate the reason, the consensus is that the root of our problems is the lack of resolution of our status. Since 1898, PR belongs to the United States of America (US); since 1917, those who are born in this blessed Island are American citizens; and in 1952 we enacted our Constitution, which did not change our colonial or territorial status.
I am proud to be an American citizen but resent my Island's relationship with the US. How many more years must go by without our soldiers, who go into battle risking their lives alongside their comrades soldiers residents of the 50 states, can vote for their "Commander in Chief"? How many more laws will be enacted in US Congress without Puerto Rico having a congressional representation with the right to vote to support or object them because of their impact on our daily lives? For how much longer we have to resign ourselves to be the first in line for cuts to federal funds and the last at the time of the distribution? All this because we are a colony; because based on our status, under the Territorial Clause of the US Constitution, Congress can discriminate against the 3.5 million of American citizens who live here.
Because at the moment you don't live in the Island, this letter is addressed to you. Although I know that many have left PR by choice, during my visits as a candidate to become the first female Resident Commissioner in Washington, DC, I come across too many mothers who share their pain because their children have had to leave with the hope of finding better opportunities in one of the 50 states. Whether it was by choice or because you felt you didn't have any other option, I know you still love your Island and want the best for it. I know you're convinced that the discrimination must end NOW; we deserve EQUALITY.
Unfortunately, our present situation leads too many to think that PR is no longer the Island of Enchantment; that instead of being Puerto Rico, it should be called "Puerto Pobre". This has to change NOW; it is time to act.
The solution of PR's status is a matter that requires the support of those who live on the Island and those who like you, for living in one of the 50 states, have the right to vote for the President of US and a congressional delegation with the right to vote. And because of that power that you have and I don't, I ask of you to take a few moments of your time to electronically sign the enclosed petition. The same will be sent to the White House, to your congressional representatives and to the candidates for those positions. As you can see, in the same you demand from those with the duty to represent you to stop ignoring the issue; that it is time that the solution of PR's status becomes a priority for them, to be proven with action and not words.
I'm counting on your support for this initiative; together we'll be stronger and I know that the political power that you have, because EnUSAMiVotoCuenta, will be decisive in achieving the goal of resolving PR's status and, finally, achieve the EQUALITY that we deserve.
Your friend,
Zoé Laboy
Puerto Rico (PR) is experiencing one of the worst crisis in many years. When we objectively evaluate the reason, the consensus is that the root of our problems is the lack of resolution of our status. Since 1898, PR belongs to the United States of America (US); since 1917, those who are born in this blessed Island are American citizens; and in 1952 we enacted our Constitution, which did not change our colonial or territorial status.
I am proud to be an American citizen but resent my Island's relationship with the US. How many more years must go by without our soldiers, who go into battle risking their lives alongside their comrades soldiers residents of the 50 states, can vote for their "Commander in Chief"? How many more laws will be enacted in US Congress without Puerto Rico having a congressional representation with the right to vote to support or object them because of their impact on our daily lives? For how much longer we have to resign ourselves to be the first in line for cuts to federal funds and the last at the time of the distribution? All this because we are a colony; because based on our status, under the Territorial Clause of the US Constitution, Congress can discriminate against the 3.5 million of American citizens who live here.
Because at the moment you don't live in the Island, this letter is addressed to you. Although I know that many have left PR by choice, during my visits as a candidate to become the first female Resident Commissioner in Washington, DC, I come across too many mothers who share their pain because their children have had to leave with the hope of finding better opportunities in one of the 50 states. Whether it was by choice or because you felt you didn't have any other option, I know you still love your Island and want the best for it. I know you're convinced that the discrimination must end NOW; we deserve EQUALITY.
Unfortunately, our present situation leads too many to think that PR is no longer the Island of Enchantment; that instead of being Puerto Rico, it should be called "Puerto Pobre". This has to change NOW; it is time to act.
The solution of PR's status is a matter that requires the support of those who live on the Island and those who like you, for living in one of the 50 states, have the right to vote for the President of US and a congressional delegation with the right to vote. And because of that power that you have and I don't, I ask of you to take a few moments of your time to electronically sign the enclosed petition. The same will be sent to the White House, to your congressional representatives and to the candidates for those positions. As you can see, in the same you demand from those with the duty to represent you to stop ignoring the issue; that it is time that the solution of PR's status becomes a priority for them, to be proven with action and not words.
I'm counting on your support for this initiative; together we'll be stronger and I know that the political power that you have, because EnUSAMiVotoCuenta, will be decisive in achieving the goal of resolving PR's status and, finally, achieve the EQUALITY that we deserve.
Your friend,
Zoé Laboy