On March 19, 1997, during the 1st Session of the 105th Congress, Republican Senator Larry E. Craig of Idaho (R-ID) introduced S. 472 in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. This plebiscitary legislation provided for a status plebiscite enabling the residents of Puerto Rico to express their preferences for a political status for the Puerto Rican islands.
On March 31, 1987, during the 1st Session of the 100th Congress, Democrat Representative Roland V. Dellums of California (D-CA) introduced H.J.Res. 218 in the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. The resolution affirmed the right to self-determination and the decolonization of Puerto Rico.
On January 10, 1945, during the 1st Session of the 79th Congress, Democrat Senator Millard E. Tydings of Maryland (D-MD) introduced S. 227 in the Senate from the Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs. This status bill provided for the U.S. withdrawal from Puerto Rico and the recognition of its independence.
On November 8, 2023, during the first Session of the 118th Congress, Democrat Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico (D-NM) introduced S.3231 in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. This bill enabled the people of Puerto Rico to choose a permanent, nonterritorial, fully self-governing political status for Puerto Rico and to provide for a transition to and the implementation of that permanent, nonterritorial, fully self-governing political status. The three territorial options included in this bill are Statehood, Independence, and Sovereignty in Free Association.
During the 1st Session of the 56th Congress, on January 22, 1900, Democrat Representative Robert
L. Henry of Texas (D-TX) introduced H.R. 7020 in the House Committee on Insular Affairs. The
bill was an organic or territorial act.
On April 30, 1963, during the 1st Session of the 88th Congress, Democrat Representative Wayne N. Aspinall of Colorado (D-CO) introduced H.R. 5945 in the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. This bill sought to create a Commission on the Status of Puerto Rico to establish a procedure for the prompt settlement, in a democratic manner, of the political status of Puerto Rico.
On May 19, 2009, during the 1st Session of the 111th Congress, Democrat and New Progressive Party Resident Commissioner Pedro R. Pierluisi of Puerto Rico (D/PNP-PR) introduced H.R. 2499 in the House Committee on Natural Resources. This bill provided for a federally sanctioned plebiscite to resolve Puerto Rico’s political status.
On December 17, 1975, during the 1st Session of the 94th Congress, Popular Democrat Resident Commissioner Jaime Benitez of Puerto Rico (D-PR) introduced H.R. 11200 in the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. The status bill sought to approve a Compact of Permanent Union between Puerto Rico and the United States.
On April 22, 1952, during the 2nd Session of the 82nd Congress, Democratic Senator Joseph C. Mahoney of Wyoming (D-WY) introduced S.J.Res. 151 in the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. H.J.Res. 430 accompanied this bill in the House. The resolution sought the approval of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
During the 2nd Session of the 73rd Congress, on June 2, 1934, Democrat and Socialist member of the conservative Coalición, Resident Commissioner Santiago Iglesias of Puerto Rico (D/Coalición-PR) introduced H.R. 9831 in the House Committee on the Territories. The status bill enabled Puerto Rican electors to form a territorial constitution and subsequent statehood.
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