Bills
| 3.23.22

Should Puerto Rico be Admitted as a State in 2025 if its Voters Opt for Statehood? (H.R. 260)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 260?

(Updated February 1, 2021)

This bill — known as the Puerto Rico Admission Act — would express that it’s U.S. policy to allow the American citizens of Puerto Rico to choose whether Puerto Rico will become a state or an independent nation through a plebiscite (aka a referendum). If those voters choose statehood, Puerto Rico would be considered a state for purposes of federal elections in November 2024 and be admitted as a state on January 3, 2025.

Federal laws that don’t apply to Puerto Rico or that apply differently to the territory than to states would be amended or repealed so that Puerto Rico would be on equal legal footing with states by January 3, 2025. The President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status would be required to submit a plan to provide for equal treatment to the president and Congress within 270 days of this bill’s enactment.

Argument in favor

The American citizens of Puerto Rico should have a say in determining if their territory becomes a state. If they opt for statehood, admitting Puerto Rico in 2025 allows time for a smooth transition.

Argument opposed

The people of Puerto Rico shouldn’t be able to decide whether to become a state. The U.S. should either encourage Puerto Rico to remain a territory or to become its own nation.

Impact

American citizens of Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico’s government; Congress; the president; and the United States of America.

Cost of H.R. 260

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Puerto Rico’s non-voting delegate to Congress, Del. Jenniffer Gonazalez-Colon (R/NPP) introduced this bill to grant Puerto Rico statehood in 2025 if its voters choose to become a state and phase-in laws to ensure its equal treatment while it transitions from being a territory:

“This bill is only the first measure that I will propose if necessary to obtain equality for the Americans of Puerto Rico — who are now only equal in war, but not in peace.”

This legislation has the support of one cosponsor, Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL).

Of Note: For the first time, Puerto Rican voters voted in favor of statehood in a nonbinding referendum. When asked about their current territorial status, 54 percent of Puerto Ricans were opposed. The polling about their future yielded 61 percent preferring statehood, 33 percent opting for semi-autonomous "sovereign free association", and six percent for total independence. 
In a referendum in June 2017 that was boycotted by the opposition, 97 percent of voters chose statehood, prompting Puerto Rico to pursue the Tennessee Plan to statehood.
In June 2016, Congress passed legislation known as the PROMESA Act to help Puerto Rico restructure its $72 billion debt.

Media:

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: dennisvdw / iStock)