To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate

Puerto Rico Statehood

For the first time a majority of voters in Puerto Rico, 61 percent, have said they prefer statehood over their current status. Unless they change their minds, in due course the island should be admitted to the Union as the 51st state.

Republicans may not like it; 83 percent of Puerto Ricans residing on the mainland voted for President Obama. The 51st state likely would send Democrats to Congress — unless the GOP starts making more in-roads with Hispanic voters. The United States has controlled Puerto Rico since grabbing it from Spain, the loser in the Spanish-American War of 1898; fairness demands that the islanders decide their own future.

Why is this important?

We are over 3.5 million Americans living as second class citizens in Puerto Rico. On November 6th, of 2012, over 63 percent of the voters elected to end the colonial status and demand of our political leaders to grant Puerto Rico as the 51st state. President Obama promised to work on this issue should the people of Puerto Rico demanded statehood.