Individuals born in Puerto Rico are citizens of the United States. we encourage migration between the Island and the mainland. It is unjust to erect barriers to the right to vote. The Englishlanguage literacy test is an arbitrary violation of the 14th and 15th amendments. The 14th amendment provides that no State shall "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." There is no question but that in New York thousands of American citizens have been denied this equal protection of the laws. Mr. Chairman. it is time for the Congress to put an end to this arbitrary standard. It is time for the Congress to end this blatant form of voting discrimination in New York City. I have fought consistently against the literacy test. and I am delighted that we are taking this step which will enfranchize so many American citizens.
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literacy test