Target: Members of the U.S. Congress
Goal: Praise legislators for providing crucial aid for Puerto Rico’s Medicaid system.
As it sinks further into economic crisis, the island of Puerto Rico has become increasingly reliant on government aid to provide for its high population of poor residents. However, despite the fact that they are tax-paying U.S. citizens living in an United States territory, lawmakers have been weary of allotting funds for Puerto Ricans. This issue came to a head during the recent budget negotiations in Congress, with Democrats threatening to shut down the federal government if Puerto Rico was not given crucial funds to support its Medicaid system. Despite the ridicule of President Trump, Democrats got their way, and now $295 million will be sent to Puerto Rico to preserve funding for the healthcare needs of citizens dealing with a worsening economic crisis.
It is not common knowledge in the U.S. that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, making Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens who pay taxes, are free to move anywhere in the country, and are able to join the military (and they do at high rates). Because of this ignorance, Puerto Ricans are often treated as foreigners and second-class citizens, and the island’s territorial status doesn’t help, as it effectively makes them a colony without the most basic federal voting rights. The colonial treatment of Puerto Rico is a large contributor to their current debt crisis, and when President Trump ridiculed Democrats for trying to help Puerto Ricans pay for Medicaid, many activists fought back against the claim that tax-paying citizens didn’t deserve federal aid, including those who signed this petition. In the end, members of Congress were able to make a deal to support Puerto Rico’s Medicaid system, which will help keep it from collapsing in the short-term and provide Puerto Ricans a much needed sigh of relief.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Members of Congress,
I write to you today to thank you for agreeing to provide $295 million in crucial funding for Puerto Rico’s Medicaid system. When the issue came up during budget negotiations, many activists were worried that Puerto Ricans would once again be treated as second-class citizens and the cruel remarks of President Trump certainly did not alleviate those fears. However, I am proud that you made the right choice in the end and voted to ensure critical federal aid went to our fellow citizens during their time of need.
As Puerto Ricans face an increasingly dire financial situation on their island, I hope you will listen to their referendums past and future and use your positions to finally make the territory a state. As past votes have proved, this is the will of the majority of Puerto Ricans, who are proud, tax-paying American citizens and who deserve to be treated as such. By making Puerto Rico a state, future funding crises can be averted and their economic situation will improve, and the people of this beautiful island can finally feel like a valued part of our great nation.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Boss Tweed
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