This resolution reaffirms the principles of consent and self-determination for residents of U.S. territories while rejecting the discriminatory legal precedents of the Insular Cases.
Stacey Plaskett
Representative
VI
This resolution reaffirms the commitment to democracy and self-determination for the 3.6 million residents of U.S. territories, acknowledging that they are currently denied the full rights promised by the nation’s founding principles. It formally rejects the racist legal precedents of the *Insular Cases* and declares that the ideals of equality and government by consent must apply to all people living under the U.S. flag.
Resolution Reaffirms Voting Rights and Federal Benefits for 3.6 Million Territory Residents on 250th Anniversary of Independence
As the United States gears up for its 250th birthday, this resolution aims to address a massive democratic loophole affecting 3.6 million people. It acknowledges that residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands are currently living without the 'consent of the governed.' Despite paying over $5 billion in federal taxes every year and serving in the military at some of the highest rates in the country, these citizens can’t vote for their Commander in Chief and are often locked out of programs like Social Security Income (SSI) and SNAP benefits.
The 'Insular Cases' Problem
The resolution takes a direct swing at a century-old legal hurdle known as the 'Insular Cases.' These early 1900s Supreme Court decisions basically created a 'separate but unequal' status for territories, arguing that the Constitution doesn't fully apply to people living there based on what the resolution describes as 'racial stereotypes.' By citing recent critiques from Justices Gorsuch and Sotomayor—who called these precedents 'odious and wrong'—the measure seeks to officially reject the idea that the U.S. can hold colonies where people only have the rights Congress feels like giving them.
Real-World Stakes for Families
For a veteran in Guam or a senior in Puerto Rico, this isn't just about legal theory; it’s about the checkbook and the ballot box. Currently, a person could move from Florida to the U.S. Virgin Islands and suddenly lose their eligibility for federal disability benefits or their right to vote for President, even though their tax obligations remain. This resolution reaffirms that the principles of the Declaration of Independence—specifically that government power comes from the consent of the people—must apply to everyone under the American flag, regardless of their zip code.
A Path Toward Self-Determination
While the resolution doesn't force a specific change like statehood or independence, it sets a clear federal standard for 'fair treatment.' It explicitly backs the right to self-determination, meaning it supports the territories' right to decide their own political future without being held back by discriminatory legal relics. By aligning territorial rights with the 'spirit and genius' of the Constitution, the measure pushes for a future where 3.6 million Americans are no longer treated as second-class citizens in the eyes of federal law.