Senate Committee Holds Hearing on bill that could lead to Puerto Rican statehood

Earlier today, the United States Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act. The bill, which recently passed the House by a vote of 233-169, would create a congressionally sanctioned referendum to determine the future status of Puerto Rico. Of the four options Puerto Ricans could vote for, one option would endorse the island’s eventual admission as a U.S. state.

The Chairman of U.S. English, Mauro E. Mujica, made the following statement following the hearing: “It’s time Congress starts asking the tough questions in regard to Puerto Rican statehood and the role of English on the island. Puerto Rico should be held to the same standards as other states admitted to the Union. Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana and Oklahoma were all required to make English their official language before becoming a state and Puerto Rico should be no different. Eighty-seven percent of Americans want English to be the official language of the United States. For hundreds of years, it’s been our common language that has united our diverse population. If Puerto Rico votes to become the 51st state, they need to understand that in doing so they must be prepared to accept English as their sole official language. Anything less is just unacceptable.”

The hearing featured testimony by pro-statehood Governor Luis Fortuño of Puerto Rico, Popular Democratic Party President Héctor Ferrer Ríos, and Puerto Rican Independence Party President Rubén Ángel Berríos Martínez. CSPAN footage of the hearing is available here.

A link to the Rasmussen poll showing eighty-seven percent of Americans support making English the official language can be found here.