Controversy.

Mr. Romero-Barcelo is the Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico in the United States House of Representatives.

'Domestic terrorists" and "Hoods." The derelict image of Puerto Ricans that Jorge Amselle portrays in his article "State Hood" [NR, Aug. 11] belies the loyalty, commitment to democracy, and valuable contributions of the Puerto Rican people to the United States, of which, by law, they are citizens. I speak for the 3.8 million Puerto Ricans residing on the island, as well as the 2.5 million residing throughout the 50 states, including hundreds of thousands of veterans, government officials, physicians, business owners, scientists, teachers, engineers, athletes, blue-collar workers, mothers, and children, who have been smeared by this article.

I can only speculate about Mr. Amselle's motivations, but I find contemptible his attempt to portray law-abiding, loyal citizens as hoods, abusers of government programs, and terrorists.

Mr. Amselle fails to inform the reader that Puerto Rico is the last political jurisdiction of more than one million inhabitants in the Western Hemisphere that is still a colony, and yet it has never revolted by force of arms against the colonial government. Puerto Rico has a history of peace, commitment to democracy, and political tolerance like that of no other territory or nation in the Western Hemisphere.

Perhaps Mr. Amselle is not aware that Puerto Rico, if considered a foreign country, would be among the top ten customers for American goods in the world. This translates into a contribution of billions of dollars to the economy of the 50 states. Puerto Rico is the fourth busiest container cargo port in the Western Hemisphere, and shipments between Puerto Rico and the 50 states account for 25 per cent of the total value of shipments carried by U.S. flag vessels. Our manufacturing workforce is among the most highly educated in the world.

THE U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico have fought and died for their country in two World Wars and numerous other conflicts. Puerto Rico has the second-highest number of war casualties per capita among jurisdictions of the United States; more than eight thousand Puerto Rican men and women made the ultimate sacrifice in wars this century, and no one asked them, before they met their deaths, if they spoke English. The most decorated regiment in the Korean War was the 65th Infantry Regiment, almost exclusively made up of Puerto Ricans.

The United States, as the champion of freedom, fights for the rights set forth in our Constitution. So have Puerto Ricans since we were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917. Every President since Harry Truman has urged Congress to support political self-determination for the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico. Ronald Reagan made a point of saying that he was "confident in my belief that statehood would benefit both the people of Puerto Rico and their fellow American citizens in the 50 states." If Puerto Rico elected to become a state, Reagan said, "the language and culture of the island, rich in history and tradition, would be respected." That is one of the reasons why the current conservative Republican leadership of the U.S. Congress, including Speaker Newt Gingrich, has joined in the bi-partisan effort on behalf of HR-856, the United States - Puerto Rico Political Status Act.

This bill is not about declaring Puerto Rico a state. It is about one of the most fundamental of American liberties -- the right to self-determination. HR-856 simply authorizes a process by which the people of Puerto Rico can vote in a referendum that provides three political options: continuation of the current "Commonwealth" status; statehood; and independence.

It is nearly 100 years since Puerto Rico became part of the United States, as a result of the Spanish - American War of 1898. Yet, despite Puerto Ricans' sacrifices in the military conflicts of this century, the island still remains a territory, and its 3.8 million American citizens are denied participation in the demo-cratic processes of our nation.

Throughout this century, the United States has enjoyed the unwavering allegiance of the people of Puerto Rico. As American citizens we share the same democratic ideals and principles. Now, we are demanding our inherent and often-promised right to decide our political destiny. It is my hope that incendiary, unfounded, and prejudiced articles like Mr. Amselle's will not undermine our right to equal opportunity in our pursuit of the American Dream.