Civic Register
| 5.1.18
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Bipartisan Bill Calls for Puerto Rico Statehood by 2021
Join us and tell your reps how you feel!
UPDATE - June 29, 2018:
- A bipartisan group of lawmakers have introduced legislation to make Puerto Rico the nation's 51st state "no later than January 1, 2021."
- The Puerto Rico Admission Act of 2018 was introduced by the territory's resident commissioner, Republican Jenniffer González-Colón, a nonvoting member of Congress.
“This is the first step to open a serious discussion to determine the ultimate political status of Puerto Rico,” González-Colón said. “To sum everything up, this is about equality."
- The bill, co-sponsored by 22 Republicans and 14 Democrats, calls for the creation of a task force - the Congressional Task Force on Equality for American Citizens of Puerto Rico - which would examine the changes necessary to make the unincorporated territory the 51st state. During that time, Puerto Rico would become an incorporated territory.
What do you think?
Do you support Puerto Rico’s bid for statehood? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.
—Josh Herman
Countable's original story appears below.
Puerto Rico Pushes for Statehood – Where Would the Star Go?
What’s the story?
- “After the storm comes action.” That’s the tagline of the new Puerto Rican campaign, PODER, Spanish for “power,” which seeks to mobilize citizens both on the island and living in the mainland United States.
- Seven months after Hurricane Maria tore across the island, many Puerto Ricans are still struggling to recover. That's why Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló is on a weeklong media blitz spreading word of PODER and urging the 5.6 million Puerto Ricans in the mainland to vote.
- Rosselló and his New Progressive Party have a solution to Puerto Rico’s second-class status: statehood.
An artist's rendition of Old Glory with 51 stars.
Why does it matter?
- In June of last year, Puerto Ricans hit the polls and 97 percent of voters chose statehood over the alternatives—remaining a commonwealth or becoming an independent country. However, because of low voter turnout, and the hurricanes, the issue was essentially put on hold.
- Now, Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González - who holds a nonvoting role representing the territory in the House – has said she plans on filing “a bill this spring petitioning for statehood and is counting on the growing Puerto Rican diaspora on the mainland to pressure lawmakers,” according to the Washington Post.
- Some U.S. members of Congress support a 51st star. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told the Post that he support statehood because the status quo, a kind of colonization, is antithetical to America’s democratic values:
“It places us in a position of looking like colonialists,” Hoyer said. “It would be difficult to pass legislation on statehood today, but not impossible.”
What do you think?
Would you support Puerto Rico’s bid for statehood? Are you one of the 5.6 million Puerto Ricans living in the U.S.? Where on the flag could we fit a 51st star? (We’re serious on getting your thoughts about the design.) Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.
—Josh Herman
Related Reading
(Photo Credit: Milenius / Creative Commons)
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