If U.S. national sovereignty continues, it is only as a state that Puerto Rico will have permanent 10th Amendment powers over its non-federal affairs, as well as voting power in Congress. — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
The need for a permanent status resolution approved by Congress is made even more clear to me because of my experience as a former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
As the highest ranking American official in the United Nations organization, I came to understand thoroughly that the national constitutional processes of the member… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
Now that the there is a path for the people of Puerto Rico to express their self-determination on Puerto Rico's political status, there are… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
The capacity of the commonwealth government created under the local constitution to exercise governmental powers in local affairs is like that of local government… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
The powers of government exercised locally derive from a federal law authorizing government by consent in local affairs only, unless those affairs are otherwise… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
Internal self-government under a local constitution was authorized by Congress and approved by the residents in 1952, but federal law is supreme in Puerto… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
The political status legislation which emerged in Congress in 1990 and 1991 did not receive the support needed for enactment into law during my… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
That is why, with optimism instead of fear, all those who want to see Puerto Rico's status resolved should seek the truth about each… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
It is quite understandable that Puerto Ricans seek to preserve a cultural sense of identity without separating politically from U.S. national sovereignty. — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
After one hundred years of federal rule, the United States House of Representatives has moved to provide for the first meaningful route to self-determination… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
Instead of generating either unnecessary alarm or a false sense of security regarding these fundamental issues, the best course is to empower people with… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
Yet, Puerto Ricos economic convergence and political integration with the rest of the nation is in a state of arrest - even though the… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
