The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute held a policy briefing on Puerto Rico on July 31st, with panelists including Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Justin Velez-Hagan of the National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, constitutional scholar Christina Ponsa Kraus, economist Jose Luis Rivera Rivera, and Andrés Martínez Fernández of the Heritage Foundation. George Laws Garcia of The Puerto Rico Statehood Council moderated the discussion. Also present was former congressperson Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
González spoke about the economic and security aspects of Puerto Rico’s relationship with the United States. Shortly after she finished her remarks, trade unionist David Galarza shouted at her, “How dare you join the Heritage Foundation?”. Gonzalez responded firmly that, while she might not agree with all the views represented by the panel, she expected all to be treated with respect.
This statement set the tone for most of the event. Puerto Rico, as we would expect of a territory of the United States, includes many different points of view and experiences. Speakers referred to economic data, national security, and the consequences of Puerto Rico’s territorial status.
Several speakers talked about the strength of Puerto Rico in manufacturing, especially in the area of pharmaceuticals.
The connection between the United States and Puerto Rico was discussed as an advantage for the Island, though the colonial relationship was also mentioned as a problem.
Velez-Hagan spoke positively about investors from the mainland, but also mentioned that political risk can interfere with those investments.
Global influence
The connection between Puerto Rico and Latin America is also an advantage, for logistics and expanding markets as well as from the point of view of national security. Concerns about China’s growing influence in Latin American were discussed. Economic prosperity in Puerto Rico helps to shift regional feeling away from China, Velez-Hagan suggested.
Martínez Fernández expressed concern about “increased recognition by our adversaries that the United States is vulnerable in the Caribbean.” For this reason, he said, “Economic instability in Puerto Rico leaves the broader United States vulnerable.” He mentioned drug trafficking in Latin America as another threat to the nation. “It highlights the importance of Puerto Rico.”
American citizens on the Island should be used in the manufacture of sensitive defense materials, he suggested. Nearshoring of supply chains would be good for Puerto Rico but also for national security. Velez-Hagan agreed that Puerto Rico has the capacity to take the lead in cyber-security and other types of modern defense development and manufacturing. The instability and uncertainty of the territorial status, he said, prevents investment in projects of this kind on the Island. “When you don’t know what’s coming down the pike, you don’t know how to invest.”
Ponsa-Kraus also pointed out that the colonial relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico undermines the legitimacy of the United States as a democracy. That legitimacy, she said, is “essential for foreign relations.”
Status
Ponsa-Kraus spoke on the question of status. She explained the current status, which is that of an unincorporated territory belonging to the United States. She pointed out the uncertainty that comes with being a territory — and especially an unincorporated territory, which is not guaranteed statehood.
“Uncertainty and instability,” she pointed out, are not conducive to economic development, or even to daily functioning. “People are opposed to each other on the most fundamental level…on ordinary day-to-day political questions.”
Laws Garcia asked about citizenship under independent or free associated status. “What happens to citizenship,” Ponsa-Kraus responded, “is a thorny question.” Most Puerto Ricans want to keep their U.S. citizenship, even though there is a strong pride in Puerto Rican identity.
“Under any status except statehood, Congress has total control over whether to grant U.S. citizenship or not,” she said. “Congress at any moment could decide to stop granting citizenship.” She emphasized the fact that the situation could change at any time in the future, except under statehood. This fact would leave Puerto Rico in a continuing situation of instability.
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