The House of Representatives voted Thursday to create a federal control board to help Puerto Rico cope with it crippling debt crisis. The bill passed by a vote of 297 to 127. The bill nows moves on to the Senate. The bill would impose a seven-member oversight board with sweeping powers to run Puerto Rico’s economy. Democratic Congressman Luis Gutiérrez spoke out against the bill.

Rep. Luis Gutiérrez: “We’re engaged today in a wholly undemocratic activity in the world’s greatest democracy. We’re debating how we will take power from the people, who are virtually powerless already. … Think about it. You are imposing a junta—because that’s what they’re calling it. There will be no difference between this junta and the junta of Pinochet in Chile, as far as the international community is concerned.”