Puerto Rican Representative to Congress Jenniffer González and Florida Congressman Darren Soto announced the presentation of a bill on Tuesday so that in 12 months the admission of Puerto Rico as a new state of the United States will be declared.
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi used his account on the social network Twitter to spotlight the initiative, which will include a parallel measure presented in the Senate by Martin Heinrich, a lawmaker for the state of New Mexico.
“I thank Jenniffer González, Darren Soto, Martin Heinrich and all those who support us for presenting this bill and standing up for our people. US citizens of Puerto Rico support, ”Pierluisi said.
Puerto Rico has been a US territory since 1898 and is defined as a Commonwealth of that country, with its own constitution and with a degree of autonomy, although the US reserves elements such as defense, currency, immigration and customs, among others.
That condition divides Puerto Ricans and while the ruling New Progressive Party (PNP) proposes making the island the 51st state in the US, the opposition Popular Democratic Party (PPD) advocates perpetuating Commonwealth status.
González posted on Twitter some statements by Florida Congressman Val Demings pointing out that while the two American parties don’t often think alike, they are moving in the same direction in the case of the island.
“We agree on the ‘statehood’ – annexation – of Puerto Rico. We are going to do everything we can to approve ‘Satehood’ for Puerto Rico,” said Demings, according to statements released by the island’s representative for Puerto Rico. the Congres.
The measure envisages a process for the admission of Puerto Rico as a new US state, on the condition that the island’s voters vote for it in a new consultation on annexation.
DURATION OF 12 MONTHS
The bill filed in the United States House of Representatives proposes a 12-month period during which the United States government can declare Puerto Rico’s admission as a state.
Democratic Congressman Darren Soto, the legislative’s lead author, said the bill currently has the support of 36 Democrats and 14 Republicans.
Heinrich, for his part, said he is in talks with Republicans and Democrats to introduce a bill similar to Soto and González’s in the Senate.
Exactly, today a bill was passed in the House of Representatives proposing to establish a working group on the lack of federal political rights in the areas – considered by some to be colonies – of the United States.
DISCUSSION IN THE COMMITTEE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
The project on annexation was to be discussed in a hearing announced by the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee of the House of Representatives, the Democrat Raúl Grijalva.
In the Senate, Heinrich’s move would be considered by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, chaired by Democrat Joe Manchin.
The last consultation on status took place on November 3, the date coinciding with Puerto Rico’s general election.
In that consultation, a total of 623,053 people or 52.3% voted for state or full integration in the United States, while 567,346 people or 47.6% voted against
Charles Schumer, leader of the Democratic Majority in the Senate, said on the issue that 52.3% for annexation does not reflect enough consensus to advance that direction.
Senate Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell has already spoken out against the island’s annexation project.