of a percentage point. In recessions, several of them have been stronger here. We have felt the effect more. Particularly when high interest rates combine with high petroleum prices, the recession is deeper always here in Puerto Rico. But the problem is that, when we have a third of the national average in per capita income, we just cannot afford to grow at the same pace as the Nation. We have to outpace it. We have to try to achieve a growth rate that is at least twice, possibly three times that of the Nation in order to close the gap. If we want to close the gap in less than 30 years, we have to grow at almost three times the pace of the rest of the Nation. Mr. ROMERO-BARCELÓ. This morning there was also testimony as to what statehood would mean, and they tried to indicate that we would have a loss of jobs. The Federal agencies in Puerto Rico have the same number, approximate proportion of number of employees as they have in the States of the Union; do you know that? Mr. PIETRI. Absolutely not. The Federal expenditure per capita for procurement contracts, for whatever, all the other different categories, are a fraction in Puerto Rico of what they are in States per capita-any State. Mr. ROMERO-BARCELÓ. And the Federal payroll in Puerto Rico, on a per capita basis, is that as high as it is on the mainland? Mr. PIETRI. Absolutely not. It is a very small percentage as compared to the rest of the States. Mr. ROMERO-BARCELÓ. We have very few employees here in health care. Mr. PIETRI. Hardly any. Mr. ROMERO-BARCELÓ. And even in the post office we are undermanned, is that not correct? Mr. PIETRI. Yes, sir. Mr. ROMERO-BARCELÓ. And in a lot of the other agencies we have much less employees on a per capita basis than States with a similar population. So there will be a lot more Federal jobs in Puerto Rico as far as that is concerned. Mr. PIETRI. Yes. But Federal jobs really would be a minor portion of the jobs created. I think the massive amount of jobs that will be created will come from that certainty, because Puerto Rico has many competitive advantages. Just a brief list of the competitive advantages: strategic geographic location, a democratic tradition. We are part of the U.S. flag, a dollar-based economy, an infrastructure that, while it may need improvement, is sound. We have world-class communications and transportation. We have a bilingual and bicultural business environment. We have, most important of all, a large, loyal, trainable and highly productive labor force. Those are tremendous competitive advantages. But to make the most of them we need the certainty, we need the political power of statehood and its full integration into the national economy. Mr. ROMERO-BARCELÓ. Why do you need the certainty? Mr. PIETRI. Because whenever anybody makes an investment, that is the first item to be valued even before the return. Mr. KENNEDY. Thank you. The only certainty here is that I will no longer be able to serve as chairman unless I limit your time. Mr. Underwood. Mr. UNDERWOOD. No questions. Mr. KENNEDY. For my sake, I want to say how much I appreciated all of your testimony and the clarity of the testimony, especially with respect to the fact that currently, under the commonwealth status, Puerto Ricans are disenfranchised from their rights to elect seven more members-six or seven Members of Congress. And at least with all the decisions that are being made in the Congress, you could carry some real political weight; and the people would understand that in the future, I hope after Puerto Rico chooses statehood, which I expect they will, that the next hearings like this they will be done by a chairperson who has voting rights on the Committee and who will have seniority because they will have been able to have the same seniority rights as I currently have as a member of my State representing Rhode Island and all the other of my colleagues have in the U.S. Congress. I have to now turn the gavel back over to Chairman Young, and I thank you all. Buenos dias. Mr. YOUNG. [Presiding.] I want to thank the panel; and I have some questions that I will submit to you for the record. Because I do not think it is fair to continue when, as I said, we would adjourn at a certain time. A lot was said today in all this period of time with different witnesses; but on any side of the aisle, those that have presented some ideas and some suggestions and can really help us make our decisions, I deeply appreciate that. I am deeply interested in this, because I do believe that if we do not act in Congress, Puerto Rico has some serious, serious problems 20 years down the road, and the Congress would have to do things that I do not think would be appropriate. This is the time to act, to give you the right to take whatever direction you want to take. To me, that is the crux of all this hearing process. I happen to believe that you can go forth and your economy can grow. As you mention, Ivar, the advantages you have are awesome. I know in Alaska, when we went from a territory to a State, we did grow. Regardless of the oil, we did grow. We went further and passed some laws to retain our fishing rights, for instance; and that occurred, and we have become very successful. So it can be done. Before I excuse you, I want to tell you that these hearings do not take place accidentally. There is an awful lot of work that goes into a hearing. We have, of course, Manase Mansur. He has been with us for a long time. Steve Hansen. Chris Kennedy has been through this and helped set up the legwork, along with Cherie Sexton, Jeff Petrich and Marie Howard. These are the people that make this operation work. And, of course, the Capitol Police and those with us, escorting us to make sure this works, the Puerto Rican police force itself and those that have made it possible. And to the audience, though it appears sometimes I get a little apprehensive and a little bit less than understanding, I do it because it is a thing I cherish. When I run my Committee I try to give the witnesses as much time as possible to make their testi mony and to have the Congressmen to ask questions to gain knowledge. So I would again thank the people of Puerto Rico and San Juan for their courtesy and kindness. We will go to Mayaguez on Monday and continue this hearing process. And before I finish up, Mr. Miller has to say something, too. Mr. MILLER. Mr. Chairman, I just want to join you and your remarks in thanking the staff and all those people who helped make this hearing today possible and Carlos for the invitation and to all the panelists and the panelists before us right now for their contribution. The goal of coming here was to make sure that we would be able to establish a fair and open process to put a conclusion to this longrunning debate; and I think that this hearing today has been very, very helpful in that process; and I want to thank you also for bringing the Committee here. Mr. YOUNG. Thank you. Again, I want to thank everybody; and this hearing is adjourned. [Whereupon, at 3 p.m., the Committee was adjourned; and the following was submitted for the record:] DUE TO THE COSTS OF PRINTING, ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY RECEIVED FOR THE RECORD WILL BE KEPT IN COMMITTEE FILES. Hon. Pedro Rosselló, Governor of Puerto Rico Hon. Sila M. Calderon, Mayor of the city of San Juan Hon. Ramón Luis Rivera, Mayor of the city of Bayamon Associated Republic Hector O'Neill, President, Federation of Municipalities of Puerto Rico Enrique Vázquez-Quintana, M.D., Party for Free Associated Nation Dr. Luis Nieves Falcón, Coordinator, and Jan Susler, Attorney at Law Eduardo González Juan G. Muriel Figueras José Garriga Picó Efrain Hernandez-Arana [Additional material submitted for the record follows.] THE UNITED STATES INTERVENTION IN PUERTO RICO A century after the invasion, A STATEMENT BY PAX CHRISTI / PUERTO RICO as presented by Mr. Juan Antonio Agostini, Spokeman for the national section's Directive Board before the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives of the United States of America, on Saturday, April 19th, 1997 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. TOPICAL OUTLINE OF STATEMENT BY PAX CHRISTI-PUERTO RICO Argumentation on the historical impact of the 1898 invasion and subsequent USA intervention. The relationship between militarization and colonialism USA responsibility towards The justice requirements for each of the decolonizing alternatives. The importance of dialogue and nonviolence in the resolution of the status dilemma. |