1Urging the Congress of the United States to take action toward
2admitting the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as a state.

3WHEREAS, The United States of America was founded on the
4ideal, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, that
5government derives its powers from the consent of the governed;
6and

7WHEREAS, Every resident of the Estado Libre Asociado de
8Puerto Rico, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a United
9States citizen, having gained citizenship through the Federal
10Jones-Shafroth Act of March 2, 1917; and

11WHEREAS, The United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico
12pledge allegiance to the United States' flag; and

13WHEREAS, Many United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico
14have served, and continue to serve, our country in the United
15States military, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to
16maintain our freedom; and

17WHEREAS, The United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico,
18through a referendum held on November 6, 2012, have withdrawn

1their consent to be governed as an unincorporated territory of
2the United States; and

3WHEREAS, The United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico,
4through the same referendum, voiced their collective will and
5desire to be admitted into the Union as a state, including all
6rights and responsibilities of a state; therefore be it

7RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
8Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
9States to take swift action in response to the vote of the
10United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico and their call
11for a change in status and request for admission into the Union
12as a state; and be it further

13RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
14the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
15member of Congress from Pennsylvania.