“For over a century, Puerto Rico’s political status has been a contentious issue with significant implications for its 3.2 million inhabitants and over 6 million Puerto Ricans residing overseas, ” began an editorial in the LA Progressive. “Despite numerous plebiscites and growing dissatisfaction among Puerto Ricans, American officials and the U.S. Congress have persistently failed to resolve this problem, largely due to ignorance, colonialist attitudes, and an unwillingness to consider independence as a viable option.”
We agree that Puerto Rico’s status is a contentious issue and it certainly has significant implications for everyone living in Puerto Rico and, we would say, for all Americans. We have had six plebiscites so far and dissatisfaction is certainly widespread. “American officials” aren’t the ones making the status decisions, but we would agree that some Members of Congress suffer from ignorance on the subject of Puerto Rico. Colonial attitudes may be an issue, too, though we’d want to get a clear definition, but “an unwillingness to consider independence” is not supported by the facts.
Congress has considered independence
The Tydings bills in 1936, 1943, and 1945 proposed independence for Puerto Rico. So did the Marcantonio bill in 1936. Marcantonio introduced four more independence bills by 1950.
Luis Gutierrez introduced an independence bill for Puerto Rico in 2017.
Numerous bills on Puerto Rico status have been introduced with independence among the status options. A few were the bills of 1965, 2010, 2011, and 2021.
In 2022, The Puerto Rico Status Act was described by Reuters as “The Puerto Rico independence vote bill.” Time also used the headline “Puerto Rico Independence Bill Passes in the House.” The Puerto Rico Status Act is not an independence bill, but like so many other Puerto Rico status bills, it includes independence as an option.
Puerto Rico has considered independence
While Congress has certainly considered independence for PuertoRico, there has been little indication that Congress actually wants to lose the Island. At least three members of Congress have proposed independence bills, as listed above. Congress did not pass any of those bills. Congress has the power to admit Puerto Rico as a state, or to give Puerto Rico independence, with a simple majority vote. The U.S. Constitution does not require Congress to consult with the population of a territory before doing these things, although Congress usually does.
Instead, Congress has generally taken the position that they will do what Puerto Rico wants. This position has become less convincing as Puerto Rico votes repeatedly for statehood and yet still is not admitted as a state. But, apart from the three Members of Congress who introduced bills for independence and the many more who have introduced or co-sponsored statehood bills, most members of Congress continue to claim that they will take the action that Puerto Rico votes for.
Puerto Rico has never voted for independence. Here are the percentages gained by independence in the plebiscites:
- 1967: 0.6%
- 1993: 4.47%
- 1998: 2.55%
- 2012: 5.49%
- 2017: 1.5%
There also has never been an Independence Party governor or Resident Commissioner elected. Polls sometimes show higher numbers than votes, but Texas has more independence supporters than Puerto Rico in polls.
It is clear that Puerto Rico’s voters have considered independence, and do not want it. Congress may conclude from these results that independence is not a viable option. Yet The Puerto Rico Status Act, currently pending in both the House and the Senate, includes independence as a status option.
Independence does not suffer from a lack of consideration.
As for ignorance and colonialist attitudes, we encourage you to reach out to your representatives in Congress. Your story can help to educate Congress. Reach out to friends and family as well. With the support of the American people, Congress will take action in the end.
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