First Binding Status Plebiscite Agreed With Congress

Press Release

In a year and a half, Puerto Rico will have to choose definitively between statehood and two forms of independence in what will be the first binding congressional plebiscite, forcing the U.S. Congress to implement the option chosen by Puerto Rico's voters, explained Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón.

In a press conference from the U.S. Capitol, González Colón, along with House Majority Leader Steney Hoyer, co-author and co-commissioner of H.R. 1522 Darren Soto, co-authors of H.R. 2070 Nydia M. Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva, and Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi announced the results of the historic collaborative effort to decolonize Puerto Rico.

"The people of Puerto Rico have voted multiple times for Statehood and Congress has never spoken to resolve the status. This is the first time we have had a binding plebiscite with Congress with only non-colonial options: statehood, independence and Sovereignty in Free Association with the United States and in this way honors the mandate of the people in favor of statehood by providing a mechanism to achieve it. In passing, I want to give special recognition to my colleague Nydia Velázquez with whom I have been, and our offices, working day and night for the past three months to reach a consensus bill. Who would have imagined that she and I would have been able to reach this historic agreement! But we both understand something extremely important, Puerto Rico above any personal consideration!" expressed González Colón.

Consensus among key members of Congress on a discussion draft of the Puerto Rico Status Act, or the Puerto Rico Status Act, which establishes a process for the people of Puerto Rico to determine the future of their political status, includes:

- Authorizes a federally sponsored plebiscite to resolve Puerto Rico's political status.
- Specifies and defines the non-territorial status options for Puerto Rico: Statehood, Independence and Sovereignty in Free Association with the United States.
- Provides an objective, non-partisan, federally funded voter education campaign prior to voting.
- Establishes a process and a defined time for the U.S. Department of Justice to review voter education materials and plebiscite ballot design.
- Authorizes the funds necessary to conduct an initial plebiscite and, if necessary, a runoff plebiscite. If none of the three options obtains a simple majority (50% plus 1), a second round would be held between the two status options with the highest number of valid votes obtained.
- Describes the transition and implementation of each status option in sufficient detail for eligible voters in Puerto Rico to make an informed decision.
- Ensures the implementation of the option chosen by the majority of eligible voters in Puerto Rico.

The process for the approval of the Puerto Rico Status Act:

- The discussion draft will be posted on the Natural Resources Committee's website to receive input from the people.
- The Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee will travel to Puerto Rico to meet separately with each of the political parties.
- In June, the Committee will hold a mark-up hearing where the final measure will be presented.
- The measure will follow the usual legislative process: approval in Committee, House vote, same process in the Senate, and from there for the President's signature.

"Congress recognizes that commonwealth is unacceptable because it is a colonial status and is the cause of Puerto Rico and the American citizens who inhabit this blessed island being treated as second-class citizens. The Commonwealth's colonial status limits the full political, economic and social development of the island, the only option is to eliminate it with non-colonial status options," added González Colón.

Once the measure becomes law, the orientation process begins and the plebiscite, foreseen in the current draft, will be held on Sunday, November 5, 2023.

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