Bill to enable Puerto Rican statehood, independence passes in House of Representatives

A congressional bill that would allow Puerto Ricans to vote on whether to become an independent state narrowly passed the House of Representatives on Thursday but faces an uncertain fate in the Senate.

The Democrat-led House voted 233-191, mostly along party lines, to approve the Puerto Rico Status Act. It calls for a binding vote on the U.S. territory with deep and enduring ties to New York City.

“The time has come to fully decolonize Puerto Rico,” said Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.)

In a fiery speech, she praised the indomitable spirit of resilience among 3.2 million Puerto Ricans who live on the island and millions more on the mainland, especially in New York.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called the measure a “stepping stone” to self-determination for “our island.”

“It begins a process for boricuas to decide their own future,” said Ocasio-Cortez, using a Spanish word for Puerto Ricans.

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), a vocal proponent of statehood, said the bill is a “framework for ending the second-class status of Puerto Ricans.”

Sixteen Republicans, including Long Island Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) joined every Democrat in supporting the bill.

Republican leaders insist they do not oppose allowing Puerto Ricans to choose their future status. But they trashed the bill for limiting the possible choices, along with myriad other complications.

“If we are going to add another state to the nation, let’s do it right,” said Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.).

The bill seems unlikely to become law anytime soon. It would need to be taken up by the Senate in the final days of the current Congress and requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.

The measure sets up a binding vote in Puerto Rico with three options: statehood, independence or a hybrid known as independence with free association. If no option wins a majority, a run-off vote would decide between the two top options.

Keeping the current commonwealth status, under which Puerto Ricans do not have representation in Congress or a say in presidential elections, would not be an option.

Republicans said that is “rigging” the choice, but Democrats say the current system amounts to colonialism and must be ended.