Neil Weare, President and Founder of We the People Project, will be presenting for a CLE Class hosted by the Guam Bar Association entitled "Equal Rights for Guam."

Neil Weare, President and Founder of We the People Project, will be the keynote speaker at a public forum in Guam addressing the rights of residents of Guam and other U.S. territories.

The Hawaii Legislature has passed a resolution urging Congress to add a 28th amendment to the Constitution to provide full voting rights to residents of the District of Columbia.  Until 1959, Hawaii faced the same lack of representation as DC as U.S. territory. 

Puerto Ricans may not be able to vote for President, but since Puerto Rico became part of the United States in 1898, they have been proudly serving in the U.S. Armed Force.  Yesterday, legislation was introduced to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 65^th Infantry Regiment, a regiment of the U.S. Army based in Puerto Rico nicknamed “The Borinqueneers.”

On April 17, American Samoa celebrates the 113th Anniversary of being part of the United States.  Samoa News, the major newspaper in American Samoa, recently published an op-ed by American Samoan Attorney Charles V. Ala'ilima, co-counsel in Tuaua v. United States, that examines American Samoa's historical relationship with the United States and what it means for the recognition of American Samoans as full citizens.  Some excerpts follow, the full piece is available here.

President Obama’s budget request this year includes $2.5 million to help move forward the issue of Puerto Rico’s relationship with the United States.  This comes on the heels of a 2012 Referendum in Puerto Rico that some see as inconclusive and others see as a clear victory for statehood, depending on who you ask.

It is exciting to see President Obama continue to make these issues a priority.  In 2009, Obama pledged Puerto Ricans that he would work to resolve the island’s status.  In 2010, a Presidential Task Force issued a report with concrete recommendations on how to move forward.