Democratic Party Platform on Puerto Rico

“Democrats recognize that the people of Puerto Rico have earned and deserve to resolve the political status question. For this reason, Democrats support the enactment of the Puerto Rico Status Act (H.R.2757/S.3231) and promote the full civic and political representation for Puerto Ricans.

We will work to end its unequal treatment by the federal government and fight to provide equal access to federal programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and the CTC.

Democrats reject Trump’s failed response to Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico, and will ensure that the federal government’s response to disasters in Puerto Rico is as urgent as it would be anywhere else in the country. When disaster does strike, we will speed access to recovery funds to help rebuild. We will build on the Administration’s investments to invest further in infrastructure, economic development, education, healthcare, housing, energy, and climate resilience. We will help restructure Puerto Rico’s debt to relieve its debt burden and work to dissolve the Financial Oversight and Management Board.”

The Democratic Party has specifically supported the Puerto Rico Status Act. We hope to see Democrats in Washington, wherever they may be after the November elections and the January inauguration, step up and walk the walk, supporting and passing this essential law.

Previous platforms

These are the statements regarding Puerto Rico status from the Democratic Party platform for each election year during this century:

2020: “The people of Puerto Rico deserve self-determination on the issue of status. ”

2016: “And we are committed to addressing the extraordinary challenges faced by our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico. Many stem from the fundamental question of Puerto Rico’s political status. Democrats believe that the people of Puerto Rico should determine their ultimate political status from permanent options that do not conflict with the Constitution, laws, and policies of the United States. ” This platform also called for Puerto Rico to vote in presidential elections.

2012: “The political status of Puerto Rico remains an issue of overwhelming importance, but lack of resolution about status has held the island back. It is time for Puerto Rico to take the next step in the history of its status and its relationship to the rest of the United States. The White House Task Force Report on Puerto Rico has taken important and historic steps regarding status. We commit to moving resolution of the status issue forward with the goal of resolving it expeditiously. If local efforts in Puerto Rico to resolve the status issue do not provide a clear result in the short term, the President should support, and Congress should enact, self-executing legislation that specifies in advance for the people of Puerto Rico a set of clear status options, such as those recommended in the White House Task Force Report on Puerto Rico, which the United States is politically committed to fulfilling.”

2008: “We believe that the people of Puerto Rico have the right to the political status of their choice, obtained through a fair, neutral, and democratic process of self-determination. The White House and Congress will work with all groups in Puerto Rico to enable the question of Puerto Rico’s status to be resolved during the next four years.”

2004: “We believe that four million disenfranchised American citizens residing in Puerto Rico have the right to the permanent and fully democratic status of their choice. The White House and Congress will clarify the realistic status options for Puerto Rico and enable Puerto Ricans to choose among them.”

2000: “Puerto Rico has been under U.S. sovereignty for over a century and Puerto Ricans have been U.S. Citizens since 1917, but the island’s ultimate status still has not been determined and its 3.9 million residents still do not have voting representation in their national government. These disenfranchised Citizens – who have contributed greatly to our country in war and peace – are entitled to the permanent and fully democratic status of their choice.”

We can see that the goals of the Democratic Party platform for Puerto Rico have not always been fulfilled. In fact, since the platforms all agree that Puerto Rico is entitled to a democratic choice of status, that “The White House and Congress will clarify the realistic status options for Puerto Rico and enable Puerto Ricans to choose among them.” and that the political status should be “resolved in the next four years,” we can fairly say that the platform’s [promises to Puerto Rico have never been fulfilled.

2024

The 2024 platform, however, makes a very specific claim, that “Democrats support the enactment of the Puerto Rico Status Act (H.R.2757/S.3231).” It will be easy to see whether they follow through on this year’s intentions or not.