U.S. Senator Ken Salazar Member: Agriculture, Energy, Veterans' Affairs, Ethics and Aging Committees 2300 15^th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
For Immediate Release April 26, 2006		CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Comm. Director 303-455-7600 Andrew Nannis – Press Secretary 202-224-5852
SENATORS MARTINEZ AND SALAZAR INTRODUCE PUERTO RICO DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2006 Senators say the decision should be “firmly in the hands of the Puerto Rican people” WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Ken Salazar (D-CO) today introduced the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2006 – a bill to assist Puerto Rico in a decision-making process about its territorial status. “Since 1898 when the US was ceded Puerto Rico, the status of the island has presented a dilemma for people both on the island and here on the mainland. The legislation introduced today is simply the beginning of a process whereby Puerto Ricans will, themselves, determine the ultimate status of the island,” Martinez said. “I believe the best way to approach this is to leave this question firmly in the hands of a democratic process.” “This bill, introduced in a bipartisan fashion, will provide a means for the 4 million people of Puerto Rico to self-determine the ultimate status of their island,” Sen. Salazar said. The Martinez-Salazar bill would designate a deadline for Puerto Ricans to make their own decision about whether or not they maintain their status as a territory, or pursue a permanent, non-territory status. In either case, Congress would be responsible for assisting with and respecting the desires of the people. ###