Reaffirming the consent of the governed as the United States marks 250 years of independence.

This resolution reaffirms the fundamental American principles of equality and consent of the governed for the more than 3.6 million residents of U.S. territories and commonwealths, including American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. It highlights that these residents, despite being part of the nation for over a century, contributing billions in federal taxes, and serving in the U.S. Armed Forces at high rates, are denied full democratic participation and access to many federal programs. The resolution emphasizes that their inability to meaningfully participate in decisions concerning their governance violates their fundamental right to self-determination. The resolution explicitly rejects the racist reasoning of the Insular Cases , which historically normalized the denial of basic democratic rights in these territories, as fundamentally inconsistent with the Constitution and American values. It cites Supreme Court Justices and the Department of Justice in condemning these precedents. Ultimately, the resolution supports democracy, fair treatment, and the right to self-determination for all people in U.S. territories, advocating for the full and equal application of founding principles without favoring any specific political status option.