Puerto Rico has been a part of the United States for over a century, and yet its people are still denied many of the rights of full citizens because it is an unincorporated US territory instead of a full state. Look no further than the aftermath of Hurricane Maria - the devastation on the island, and the US Government’s unwillingness to help it rebuild - to see the impact that lacking representation can have.
Puerto Ricans overwhelmingly want to be a state, and we should endorse this and make it happen. We need to provide all Americans with full representation if we want the American people to have faith that all Americans are represented in our federal government.
Problems to be Solved
- checkPuerto Rico has been a part of the US for over a century but has never been granted the full rights of statehood.
- Puerto Rico should be a state - they function as one right now without the political rights and bankruptcy protection. If Puerto Ricans looked like Swedes they’d be a state already. We must not only offer them political equality but help them rebuild their economy and infrastructure - it will take time but that’s what Americans do.
Goals
- checkMake Puerto Rico a state
As President I will...
- Take all steps necessary to promote Puerto Rican statehood as an overdue step toward equality if this is what Puerto Ricans want.