2016 PLATFORM
Fighting for the People of Puerto Rico
And we are committed to addressing the extraordinary challenges faced by our fellow citizens in
Puerto Rico. Many stem from the fundamental question of Puerto Rico’s political status.
Democrats believe that the people of Puerto Rico should determine their ultimate political status
from permanent options that do not conflict with the Constitution, laws, and policies of the
United States. Democrats are committed to promoting economic opportunity and good-paying
jobs for the hardworking people of Puerto Rico. We also believe that Puerto Ricans must be
treated equally by Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs that benefit families. Puerto Ricans
should be able to vote for the people who make their laws, just as they should be treated equally.
All American citizens, no matter where they reside, should have the right to vote for the
President of the United States. Finally, we believe that federal officials must respect Puerto Rico’s local self-government as laws are implemented and Puerto Rico’s budget and debt are
restructured so that it can get on a path towards stability and prosperity.
Honoring the People of the Territories
We also recognize and honor the contributions and the sacrifices made in service of our country
by the Americans living in the territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. We support self-government and
self-determination for the people of the territories, and their right to decide their future status. All
Americans should be able to vote for the people who make their laws, just as they should be
treated equally. And all American citizens, no matter where they reside, should have the right to
vote for the President of the United States. We will work as partners to the people of Guam on
military matters, believe veterans from Guam and the Virgin Islands should have access to
timely and quality Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care, and take seriously the unique
health care challenges that Pacific Island communities face. And we support reviewing the
feasibility of extending the ACA to all the territories and increasing the Medicaid cap. For all
those who live under our flag, we support strong economic development and will work towards
fair and equitable treatment under federal programs.
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2012 PLATFORM
Puerto Rico
"As President Obama said when he became the first President to visit Puerto Rico and address its people in 50 years, Boricuas every day help write the American story. Puerto Ricans have been proud American citizens for almost 100 years. During that time, the people of Puerto Rico have developed strong political, economic, social, and cultural ties to the United States. The political status of Puerto Rico remains an issue of overwhelming importance, but lack of resolution about status has held the island back. It is time for Puerto Rico to take the next step in the history of its status and its relationship to the rest of the United States.
The White House Task Force Report on Puerto Rico has taken important and historic steps regarding status. We commit to moving resolution of the status issue forward with the goal of resolving it expeditiously. If local efforts in Puerto Rico to resolve the status issue do not provide a clear result in the short term, the President should support, and Congress should enact, self-executing legislation that specifies in advance for the people of Puerto Rico a set of clear status options, such as those recommended in the White House Task Force Report on Puerto Rico, which the United States is politically committed to fulfilling.
The economic success of Puerto Rico is intimately linked to a swift resolution of the status question, as well as consistent, focused efforts on improving the lives of the people of Puerto Rico. We have made great progress for Puerto Rico over the past four years, including a sharp, historic increase in Medicaid funding for the people of Puerto Rico and fair and equitable inclusion in the Recovery Act and the Affordable Care Act. Going forward, we will continue working toward fair and equitable participation for Puerto Rico in federal programs. We support increased efforts by the federal government to improve public safety in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, with a particular emphasis on efforts to combat drug trafficking and crime throughout our Caribbean border. In addition, consistent with the task force report, we will continue to work on improving Puerto Rico's economic status by promoting job creation, education, health care, clean energy, and economic development on the Island."
Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
"We also recognize and honor the contributions and the sacrifices made in service of our country by the Americans living in the territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. We support full self-government and self- determination for the people of the territories, and their right to decide their future status. We will work as partners to the people of Guam on military matters, and take seriously the unique health care challenges that Pacific Island communities face. For all those who live under our flag, we support strong economic development and will work towards fair and equitable treatment under federal programs."
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2008 PLATFORM
Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa,
the Northern Mariana Islands,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands
"We recognize and honor the contributions and the sacrifices made in service of our country by the people living in Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We believe that the people of Puerto Rico have the right to the political status of their choice, obtained through a fair, neutral, and democratic process of self-determination. The White House and Congress will work with all groups in Puerto Rico to enable the question of Puerto Rico’s status to be resolved during the next four years. We also believe that economic conditions in Puerto Rico call for effective and equitable programs to maximize job creation and financial investment. Furthermore, in order to provide fair assistance to those in greatest need, the U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico should receive treatment under federal programs that is comparable to that of citizens in the States. We will phase-out the cap on Medicaid funding and phase-in equal participation in other federal health care assistance programs. Moreover, we will provide equitable treatment to the U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico on programs providing refundable tax credits to working families. We believe that U.S. citizens in Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands should receive similar treatment. We support full self-government and self-determination for the people of Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands, and their right to decide their future status. We will seek input from Guam on relevant military matters and we acknowledge the unique health care challenges that Pacific Island communities face. For all those who live under our flag, we support strong economic development and fair and equitable treatment under federal programs."
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2004 PLATFORM
"We believe that four million disenfranchised American citizens residing in Puerto Rico have the right to the permanent and fully democratic status of their choice. The White House and Congress will clarify the realistic status options for Puerto Rico and enable Puerto Ricans to choose among them. We support full self-government for the people of Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands, and their right to decide their future status. For all those who live under our flag, we support strong economic development and fair and equitable treatment under federal programs."
