NAPREC Petitions Senator Marco Rubio to Cosponsor the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act

(Saturday, September 18, 2021 - Orlando, F.L.) –The National Puerto Rican Equality Coalition (NAPREC) organized the first in a series of grassroots efforts to petition and urge elected officials to support and cosponsor H.R. 1522/S.780, Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act, to provide the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico equality through statehood. This last Friday, on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, NAPREC focused their efforts at U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s Orlando District Office to urge the Senator to cosponsor the legislation.

“We thank Senator Rubio for his continued efforts to provide equality and parity of essential services to the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico. This is a step in the right direction,” said Nathaniel Morell, Secretary of NAPREC. “However, we believe that Senator Rubio should officially cosponsor the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act, which is the only way to truly end a second-class citizenship and permanently guarantee full equality to the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico through statehood. Statehood will provide Puerto Ricans voting representation in Congress and the ability to vote for our President. This will ensure that the island’s needs are not overlooked by the federal government. Senator Rubio must respect the will of voters on the island for statehood and hear the call from his constituents to cosponsor the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act.”

“Puerto Rico’s undemocratic colonial and territorial status affects everything. The federal discrimination ties Puerto Rico’s hands to play on a level field. Currently an estimated 10,000 Army National Guard and Army Reserve units are stationed in Puerto Rico. However, they are unable to vote for their Commander in Chief or have a voting member of Congress,” said Dennis Freytes, NAPREC Board Member and

U.S. Retired LTC. “This lack of representation prevents Puerto Ricans from having a voice in the legislative body that deploys them into harm’s way. This is not a partisan issue. The U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico are simply asking for the same rights and responsibilities as any other citizen in the 50 states.”