June 12, 2017

Wyden Statement on Puerto Rico’s Vote for Statehood

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement on Puerto Rico’s statehood referendum vote on June 11:

“Those who stand to gain financially from a continuation of the status quo will seek to delegitimize the results of this federally authorized plebiscite. I wrote the law making this plebiscite possible so Congress could get a clear understanding of the wishes of the American citizens of Puerto Rico,” Wyden said.

“They have now sent a clear and unambiguous message that they want to transition from a territory to a state. Congress needs to begin looking at ways to fulfill the wishes of these fellow Americans, as it has for all previous territories that voted for statehood.”