Puerto Rico: House of lawmakers have introduced legislation on Puerto Rico that would maintain the Caribbean island's current status as a incorporated territory of the United States, but would allow residents to choose between three options: state to island. status, independence from the United States, and "sovereignty in independent union" of Puerto Rico with the US.
The Puerto Rico Status Act was formally introduced by Democratic Ral Grijalva, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. In a statement released Friday, he said "finding a solution to the political situation in Puerto Rico" is one of his top priorities.
According to the bill, Puerto Ricans will vote in a federally-sponsored referendum on November 5, 2023, with all three options on the ballot. If no option receives more than 50% of the votes in the first round, a runoff will be held in March 2024.
Before the vote, the bill must be approved by Congress before a new legislature is formed after the November midterm elections. If the island chooses statehood, Puerto Rico's US citizenship will be protected by the country's constitution and become essentially irrevocable, prompting Washington to begin the process of accepting Puerto Rico as the country's 51st state. will be inspired.
Puerto Ricans who are already US citizens will be allowed to keep their citizenship under the Freedom Option; However, their children will not be allowed to acquire US citizenship or nationality.
Puerto Ricans who are already US citizens will retain their citizenship and pass it on to their children if both parents are US citizens, as long as the first articles of the free association option remain in effect.
Since 1898, when William McKinley's administration occupied the colony at the end of the Spanish–American War, the island has been a US possession. Puerto Ricans have been US citizens since 1917, but they do not have the right to vote in presidential elections in the United States. Although the world's oldest colony is exempt from federal income tax, it receives less federal funding than the US states.
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