Authorized statement regarding the House’s approval of Senate Bill 63

Authorized statements from Annette Martínez Orabona, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, regarding the approval of Senate Bill 63 in the House of Representatives:

“The approval of Senate Bill 63, with or without amendments, is an affront to the people and to their fundamental right of timely access to public information, without fear of reprisals and with the objective of overseeing how public officials administer the government. With this action, the House members who voted in favor of this measure show that the public hearing they held yesterday, Wednesday, was nothing more than a mere formality, rushed through in order to continue an expedited process without justification. The broad opposition from diverse groups and community organizations demonstrates that this measure benefits no one except those who are intent on hiding something from the country. The approval of Senate Bill 63 is contrary to everything a participatory democracy stands for.”