106th Congress

1999-2000

One status bill was introduced in the 106th Congress. H.R. 4751 contained a provision advocating for a Commonwealth/Permanent Union option. The 106th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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105th Congress

1997-1998

Three bills were introduced during the 105th Congress. Two of these bills, S. 472 and H.R. 856 were plebiscitary legislation and contained multiple options, namely Commonwealth, Statehood, Independence, or Free Association. The remaining bill, S. Res. 279, was a Resolution on the right to self-determination. The 105th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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95th Congress

1977-1978

Three status bills were introduced in the 95th Congress. Two bills, H.J. Res 54 and H.J. Res 367 provided for independence. One bill, H.R. 2201 included a provision for statehood. The 95th Congress did not enact any legislation changing Puerto Rico’s political status.

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96th Congress

1979-1980

Three bills were introduced in the 96th Congress. Two of the bills, S. Con. Res. 35 and H. Con. Res. 165, are resolutions that include a provision for independence. The third bill, H.J.Res. 592, provided for the creation of a constituent assembly tasked with decolonizing Puerto Rico through independence or some form of alternative free association. The 96th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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97th Congress

1981-1982

Two status bills were introduced in the 97th Congress. One bill H.J. Res 215 for the creation of a constituent assembly tasked with decolonizing Puerto Rico through independence or some form of alternative free association. The other bill, H. Res 585, provided for statehood. The 97th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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98th Congress

1983-1984

Only one bill was introduced in the 98th Congress. This bill, H.J. Res. 232 provided for the creation of a constituent assembly tasked with decolonizing Puerto Rico through independence or some form of alternative free association. The 98th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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99th Congress

1985-1986

Only one bill was introduced in the 99th Congress. The status bill, H.J. Res. 120, provided for the creation of a constituent assembly tasked with decolonizing Puerto Rico through independence or some form of alternative free association. The 99th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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100th Congress

1987-1988

Three bills were introduced in the 100th Congress. All three bills were status legislation, but two contained provisions for Statehood, namely S.1182 and H.R. 2849. The remaining status bill, H. J. Res 215, provided for the creation of a constituent assembly tasked with decolonizing Puerto Rico through independence or some form of alternative free association. The 100th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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101st Congress

1989-1990

Five bills were introduced in the 101st congress. All bills, namely S. 710, S. 711, S. 712, H.R. 3536 and H.R. 4765 were part of a plebiscitary process that took place between 1989 and 1991. Although this was the most substantive plebiscitary process in the history of the relationship between PR and the United States, the 101st Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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114th Congress

2015-2016

Two bills were introduced and one law passed during the 114th Congress. One status bill, H.R. 727 included a statehood provision. The other, S. 3044, a plebiscitary bill included three status options: statehood, sovereignty, and Commonwealth or status quo. The PROMESA Law, a fiscal measure to manage Puerto Rico’s economy, contained a provision affirming the right of Puerto Ricans to determine its future political status including by conducting a plebiscite. The 114th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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