YOUNG DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA 2012 WINTER MEETING Presented by: Phillip Arroyo (PR), Chairman, YDA Hispanic Caucus

Jonathan Padilla (CA), National Treasurer Salt Lake City, Utah

A RESOLUTION, urging President Barack Obama and the United States Congress to take action on the irrefutable and clear mandate sent by the people of Puerto Rico on November 6 th, 2012 during which the current territorial political relationship of the island with the United States was rejected and an overwhelming majority voted in favor of Puerto Rico becoming the 51 st state of the Union. WHEREAS, On March 11th, 2011, the White House released the Presidents Task Force Report on Puerto Ricos Political Status which stated: The Task Force recommends that the President and Congress support any fair, transparent, and swift effort that is consistent with and reflects the will of the people of Puerto Rico. If the process produces a clear result, Congress should act on it quickly with the Presidents support. WHEREAS, Several months after the release of the Task Force Report, President Obama traveled to Puerto Rico and delivered a speech where he stated as follows: A report from our presidential task force on Puerto Rican status provided a meaningful way forward on this question so that the residents of the island can determine their own future. And when the people of Puerto Rico make a clear decision, my administration will stand by you. President Barack Obama, June 14th, 2011 WHEREAS, On November 6ththe same day as the U.S. general elections and Puerto Ricos local electionsPR held a political status plebiscite authorized by local law. The plebiscite ballot consisted of 2 questions. On the first question, voters were asked whether they want Puerto Rico to remain a U.S. territory, the status the Island has had since 1898. The people of Puerto Rico rejected the current territorial status by a whopping irrefutable 54% to 46% vote. WHEREAS, On the second question, voters were asked to express their preference among the three alternatives to the current territory status that are legally and politically viable according to the federal government and international law: statehood, nationhood in free association with the United States, and independence. The people of Puerto Rico expressed their overwhelming support in favor of becoming the 51 st state of the Union with a whopping 61% of votes cast.

WHEREAS, Over 75 % of all registered voters in Puerto Rico cast their vote; a level of participation that is substantially higher than the national turnout for the U.S. general elections on the same day. WHEREAS, the will of the people of Puerto Rico in rejecting the current territorial political relationship of the island with the United States was irrefutably mandated by a wide 54%-46% margin as well as a super majority mandate of 61% in favor of statehood among non-territorial status options. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The Young Democrats of America and its entire national, state and local leadership urge the President of the United States and the United States Congress to: SECTION 1: Act with swift and due diligence on the referendum results held on November 6 th, 2012 in the island where the American citizens of Puerto Rico rejected the current undemocratic political relationship and supported full equality through statehood as the 51 st state of the Union. SECTION 2: Put into play a federal endorsed legislative process in Congress that validates and executes the will of the American citizens on the island who spoke loud and clear on November 6th, 2012 by claiming equal rights as American citizens and permanently rejecting modern day colonialism. SECTION 3: A copy of this resolution will be sent to the President of the United States, all members of the United States Congress and Puerto Ricos sole non-voting representative in Congress. This resolution was approved by the YDA General Assembly during its Winter Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 2nd, 2012.

Phillip Arroyo (PR) Chairman Hispanic Caucus Young Democrats of America

Jonathan Padilla (CA) National Treasurer Young Democrats of America