63rd Congress

1913-1914

Only one bill, S.5845, was introduced in the Senate during the 63rd Congress. This organic act treated Puerto Rico as a territory for purposes of the legislation.

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86th Congress

1959-1960

Eight bills were introduced during the 86th Congress. Two bills were status legislation, H.R. 1868, contained a provision for independence and the other, H.R. 7003, a provision for statehood. Four bills, H.R. 5926, S.2023, H.R. 9234, and S. 2708 sought to amend the 1952 Constitution by enhancing the “compact” theory. These four bills also affirmed the Commonwealth status. The two remaining bills, S.2396 and H.R. 10266 provided for local referendums on statehood. The 86th 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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64th Congress

1915-1916

Only one bill, S.26, was introduced in the Senate during the 64th Congress. This organic act also treated Puerto Rico as a territory for purposes of the legislation.

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88th Congress

1963-1964

Ten bills were introduced in the 88th Congress. Eight of these bills, H.R. 5945, H.R. 5946, H.R. 5947, H.R. 5948, H.R. 5991, H.R. 6047, H.R. 6076, and H.R. 6083 were plebiscitary bills linked to the creation of a status commission and included multiple status options. They were copies of the same bill but submitted by different lawmakers. One of the remaining bills, H.Res. 549 was a resolution bill. The tenth bill, became Pub. L. 88-271 and affirmed the Commonwealth status.

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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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66th Congress

1919-1920

One resolution, namely H.J.Res. 144, was introduced in the House during the 66th Congress. Interestingly, this was the earliest plebiscitary legislation introduced in Congress. H.J.Res. 144 gave Puerto Ricans the option to choose among three status options, namely 1) Independence, 2) Territorial Incorporation and/or 3) the status quo. It is interesting to note that while this legislation did not provide for statehood as an option, it opened the door for this status alternative via territorial incorporation. This legislation did not pass a house vote, nor did it become law.

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89th Congress

1965-1966

Seven status bills were introduced in the 89th Congress. All of the bills, namely H.R. 17917, H.R. 17920, H.R. 17944, H.R. 17971, H.R. 18009, H.R. 18096, and H.R. 18277 advocated for statehood. The 89th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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109th Congress

2005-2006

Four plebiscitary bills were introduced during the 109th Congress. Two of the bills were companion bills, namely H.R. 4963 and S. 2304. A third bill, S. 2661, also called for a plebiscite. In contrast, H.R. 4867 called for a two-stage plebiscite, a departure from the latter three bills. The 109th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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67th Congress

1921-1922

Three bills status bills were introduced during the 67th Congress. Unlike other type of legislation, status bills require Congress to make a determination on the application of one status to Puerto Rico. The first bill introduced in this Congress, H.R.9934, incorporated Puerto Rico as a territory. The latter companion status bills, H.R.9995, and S.3137, were simultaneously introduced in the House and Senate and provided for the creation of an Associate Free State status or a status that granted Puerto Rico an autonomous but subordinated territorial status. To be sure, both bills contained provisions reminiscent of the Platt Amendment provisions used to legitimate any U.S. intervention in an autonomous Puerto Rico.

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