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Check Out the Puerto Rico Democracy Act (H.R. 2499) Page

| Posted in Blog

Today the U.S. House of Representatives will vote for H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act.  H.R. 2499 would provide for a two-step vote process in Puerto Rico on their future political status, including the option of becoming the nation’s 51st state. Ranking Republican Doc Hastings released a video that outlines concerns and questions about the proposed legislation: Click here to…

What Would Statehood for Puerto Rico Mean – the Need For Facts

| Posted in Resourceful Information

The House of Representatives is expected to soon vote on H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act. This bill would provide for a two-step vote process in Puerto Rico on their future political status, including the option of becoming the nation’s 51st state. Puerto Rico is able to conduct its own local plebiscite or referendum, as they have done three times in the past, yet this bill…

Hastings Praises Administration’s Decision to Move Ahead with Cape Wind After Nine Years

| Posted in Press Release

House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after today’s announcement that the Administration will allow the private investment and development of the Cape Wind Energy Project in the Federal waters off the Massachusetts coast: “For an Administration that has constantly dragged its feet on American energy development, today’s…

Ranking Member Hastings' Op-Ed in The Washington Times on Puerto Rico Democracy Act

| Posted in Op-Eds and Speeches

HASTINGS: Backdoor approach to statehood April 27, 2010 Washington Times Rep. Doc Hastings When the Democratic majority was working to push through a government takeover of health care, Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared, "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it." Unfortunately, that same kind of backward logic is being used as Congress prepares to vote on the…

Get the Facts on the Puerto Rico Democracy Act

| Posted in Resourceful Information

The Puerto Rico Democracy Act would authorize a federally-sanctioned plebiscite (vote) of the people of Puerto Rico regarding their political future. Currently, Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory with Commonwealth status. Puerto Rico residents are U.S. citizens, but do not pay federal incomes taxes and are represented in Congress by a non-voting Resident Delegate. H.R. 2499…

Hastings Blog on RedState: Answers Needed Before Another Star is Added to U.S. Flag

| Posted in Op-Eds and Speeches

Answers Needed Before Another Star is Added to U.S. Flag April 23, 2010 By Rep. Doc Hastings Next week the House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act, which gives the people of Puerto Rico the opportunity to vote on their political future including the possibility of becoming America’s 51st state.  Officially, the bill would create a…

FOX News: Congressman Seeks to Expand EPA's Control of Water

| Posted in In Case You Missed It

Click here to watch Congressman Seeks to Expand EPA's Control of Water FOX News April 21, 2010 Brian Wilson A Democratic congressman is seeking to strip the word "navigable" from the 1972 Clean Water Act to allow the Environmental Protection Agency to surpass the limits imposed by a 2001 Supreme Court ruling on the kinds of waterways the agency can regulate. That word typically…

House to Consider “Puerto Rico Democracy Act” Next Week, Bill would Set up Vote on Potential 51st State

| Posted in Resourceful Information

Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act.  This bill would authorize a federally sanctioned plebiscite (vote) of the Puerto Rican people regarding their political future. The bill mandates a two-step voting process.  The first vote would allow the people of Puerto Rico to choose between selecting a “different political…