OP-ED: Rep. Grace Napolitano needs to support Puerto Rico statehood

Last November, while most people focused on the U.S. Presidential election, there was another vote that occurred and could have long-term consequences for the future of our nation. Puerto Ricans went to the polls to vote on a simple but profound question: "Should Puerto Rico be immediately admitted into the Union as a state?" This was the third vote since 2012 regarding the status of Puerto Rico, and the third time that the voters chose statehood as their preferred status option. 

Unfortunately, voting for statehood is not enough for a territory to become a state. It takes Congressional action, and that is where local Representative Grace Napolitano can have an enormous impact on the future of the island and our nation as a whole. Congresswoman Napolitano is a senior member of the House Natural Resources Committee, which is the committee that is assigned jurisdiction over the status of Puerto Rico. 

It is critical that Rep. Napolitano supports statehood for Puerto Rico because it is the best way for Puerto Ricans to achieve equal status to other American citizens. It would also create the best economic outcome for the island and would respect the will of the people.  

Despite being designated American citizens for over 104 years, Puerto Ricans have not been granted the full rights of citizenship like those on the mainland. They cannot vote for President, they have no representation in the Senate, and their one representative in the House, Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, cannot vote for legislation on the House floor. It is unconscionable that we force Puerto Rico residents to live under the regulations promulgated by the Executive Branch, and follow the laws created by the Legislative Branch, despite not being able to vote for President or have voting representation in Congress. 

Puerto Ricans also pay federal taxes, but cannot access the same federal benefits as those on the mainland. For example, Puerto Rico residents pay into Social Security, but they are excluded from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) that stateside residents receive. The island also receives less than 15% of the Medicaid funding it would normally receive if it were designated a state. 

Besides being relegated to second-class citizen status, those in Puerto Rico suffer economically from their status as a territory. Everyone knows that their current status is unsustainable because it has been rejected by those on the island in multiple island-wide elections. This uncertainty discourages businesses from being established on the island, which has led to millions of Puerto Ricans leaving the island in search of better economic opportunity. This is bad for the economic future of the island, but statehood could encourage businesses to invest in Puerto Rico and create high-paying jobs.

Most importantly, Puerto Rico statehood is the right thing to do because it is what the people on the island have voted for in free and fair elections. We have seen the danger of ignoring or trying to delegitimize election results when they are fairly conducted, and we should honor the votes of the people of Puerto Rico. 

As a senior member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Napolitano is uniquely positioned to ensure that those in Puerto Rico will finally have all the rights and privileges already granted to Americans who live on the mainland. I urge Rep. Napolitano to support statehood for Puerto Rico, and co-sponsor the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act, so Congress can finally do what is right for the people of Puerto Rico. 

Brent Tercero is a former city councilman from Pico Rivera.