PRINTER'S NO. 3940
No. 349 Session of 1990
INTRODUCED BY ACOSTA, CALTAGIRONE, COLE AND DALEY, JUNE 29, 1990
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JUNE 29, 1990
A RESOLUTION
1 Authorizing a delegation of members of the House of
2 Representatives to visit Puerto Rico in observance of Puerto
3 Rico's Independence Day.
4 WHEREAS, Puerto Rico was discovered in 1493, on Columbus'
5 second voyage to the New World. The island was colonized 15
6 years later, when Juan Ponce De Leon arrived with a contingent
7 of settlers and became the island's first governor; and
8 WHEREAS, On July 25, 1898, toward the end of the Spanish-
9 American War, United States troops landed in Puerto Rico. The
10 Spanish flag was lowered on the island and Spain was forced to
11 cede Puerto Rico to the United States as part of the terms of
12 the Treaty of Paris. The United States had long sought expansion
13 into the Caribbean for both strategic and commercial reasons.
14 The future Isthmian Canal made the need for a midpoint coaling
15 station urgent. Thus Puerto Rico became one of the main outposts
16 of an emerging power; and
17 WHEREAS, In 1917 President Wilson signed the Jones Act, which
18 granted United States citizenship to Puerto Ricans. The people
1 of Puerto Rico were never consulted about this decision, nor was
2 a referendum held on the matter. However, the granting of
3 citizenship required Puerto Ricans to serve in the United States
4 Armed Forces in time for World War I. The Jones Act also
5 implemented an expansion of self-government on the island, with
6 the establishment of a popularly elected Senate, in addition to
7 the existing House of Representatives; therefore be it
8 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives authorize a
9 delegation of members of the House of Representatives to visit
10 Puerto Rico, as guest of the Government of Puerto Rico, to
11 deliver greetings to the people of Puerto Rico in observance of
12 Puerto Rico's Independence Day.
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