VIDEO: Second Set of Legislative Hearings About Puerto Rico’s Status Bills

Jun 16, 2021
5:24 PM

The following legislative hearing from the Committee on Natural Resources Office of Insular Affairs happened on Wednesday to discuss two bills about Puerto Rico’s political status:

  • H.R. 2070 (Rep. Nydia Velázquez), To recognize the right of the People of Puerto Rico to call a status convention through which the people would exercise their natural right to self-determination and to establish a mechanism for congressional consideration of such decision, and for other purposes. Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021.
  • H.R. 1522 (Rep. Darren Soto), To provide for the admission of the State of Puerto Rico into the Union. Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act.

Witness List

H.R. 1522, “Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act”

  • Rev. Carmen Cabrera (testimony): President, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Faith Council, Hatillo, PR
  • Dr. Christina Ponsa-Kraus (testimony): Professor of Constitutional Law, Columbia University, New York, NY
  • Prof. Andrees L. Cordova (testimony): Professor of Property Law, Inter American University of Puerto Rico

H.R. 2070, “Puerto Rico Self- Determination Act of 2021”

  • The Hon. Luis Gutierrez (testimony): Former Representative, Illinois’s 4th District, Chicago, IL
  • Dr. Rafael Cox Alomar (testimony): Professor of Constitutional Law, University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC
  • Ms. Annette Martínez-Orabona (testimony: Director, Caribbean Institute of Human Rights, San Juan, PR

Neutral

  • Dr. Jose Caraballo-Cueto (testimony): Professor of Economics, University of Puerto Rico, Cayey, PR