Governor Pedro Pierluisi reported this Sunday that he sent a letter to the United States Commission on Civil Rights on Wednesday, in which he denounced the discrimination suffered by residents of Puerto Rico due to their colonial status.
“The unequal treatment that American citizens who live in Puerto Rico receive is a failure of American democracy and an offensive contradiction of the values of equality,” Pierluisi maintained in the letter.
The governor gave an example of inequality in federal programs like Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid. Pierluisi pointed out that citizens who live in the states and in Washington DC receive around 574 dollars a month in Supplemental Social Security (SSI), while for those who live on the Island it is reduced to about 82 dollars. monthly.
As for Medicaid, despite the fact that Congress increased the funds allocated to the program in Puerto Rico in December, Pierluisi declared that “this allocation remains far below what it would be if Puerto Rico were treated equally with the rest of the states.” ”.
Pierluisi stressed that Puerto Ricans on the Island are not entitled to programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and are beneficiaries of the Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN), which marks a difference with all the states of the Nation.
In addition, he highlighted the absence of effective representation of Puerto Rico in Congress, recalling that the delegate in the House of Representatives has a voice, but does not have the right to vote.
Pierluisi emphasized the discrimination and disparity suffered by members of the Armed Forces who live on the Island, veterans and their families. He argued that these citizens “do not have the same rights under the Constitution of the United States, cannot vote for members of Congress or for the president, and do not receive the same benefits.”
Finally, the governor advocated for a definitive solution to the status problem and for equality for Puerto Rico.
“It is imperative to reaffirm the principles of democracy, equality and justice of our Nation, highlighting the lack of voting rights and civil rights suffered by American citizens living in Puerto Rico”, concluded Pierluisi.
