of the Union pursuant to article IV, section 3, clause 1 of the United States Constitution, with equal rights and responsibilities of national and State citizenship under the United States Constitution. (7) Puerto Ricans have contributed greatly to the Nation and its culture and distinguished themselves in every field of endeavor. However, the denial of equal voting representation and equal treatment by the Federal Government stands in stark contrast to their contributions. (8) Since becoming a United States territory, more than 235,000 United States citizens of Puerto Rican heritage have served in the United States military. (9) Thousands of military servicemembers of Puerto Rican heritage have received numerous medals, distinctions, and commendations of every degree, including for valorous military service in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. (10) Nine military servicemembers from Puerto Rico have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, and many have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross or the Navy Cross. (11) The 65th Infantry Regiment in Puerto Rico (known as the Borinqueneers ) was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal ( Public Law 113–120 , enacted June 10, 2014) for its contributions and sacrifices in the armed conflicts of the United States, including World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. (12) Unincorporated territory status means that Federal laws can be applied to Puerto Rico and its American citizens differently, on unequal and even inequitable terms, compared not only to the States and their residents, but also unlike territories that were considered to be parts of the United States. This has limited the development of Puerto Rico and hindered its economy. (13) Unincorporated territory status has resulted in millions of residents leaving Puerto Rico to seek greater opportunities and a better quality of life available in a State. Approximately 65 percent of all people of Puerto Rican origin now live in the States, with the increasing rate of population loss in the