94th Congress

1975-1976

Four bills were introduced in the 94th Congress. Three bills, H.R. 11200, H.R. 11201, and S.J. Res 215 were amendments providing for the enhancement of the Puerto Rican Commonwealth. The remaining bill H.J. Res 1010, is a status bill with a provision for independence. The 94th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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113th Congress

2013-2014

Three bills were introduced in the 113th Congress. Two bills, H.R. 2000 and S. 2020, were status legislation which included provisions for statehood. In addition, Congress passed a Budget Law, Pub. L. 113-76) (H.R. 3547), containing a provision calling for a voter education campaign and subsequent plebiscite. This provision was introduced in response to the 2012 Puerto Rican status plebiscite. The 113th Congress did not enact any legislation that changed Puerto Rico’s political status.

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74th Congress

1935-1936

Four bills were introduced during the 74th Congress. Two were status legislation, but whereas H.R. 1394 provided for statehood, H.R. 12611 sought independence. One bill, H.R. 1393, was an Organic Act Amendment with a provision for statehood. The fourth bill, S. 4529, provided for a referendum on independence. The 74th 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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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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75th Congress

1937-1938

Two bills were introduced in the 75th Congress. One status bill, H.R. 1992, provided for the territorial incorporation of Puerto Rico. The other bill, H.R. 4885, was a referendum legislation which included a provision for independence. The 75th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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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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115th Congress

2017-2018

Three bills were introduced in the 115th Congress. Two status bills, H.R. 260 and H.R. 6246 advocated for statehood. A third bill, H.R. 900 provided for a referendum between two options: independence or Free Association. The 115th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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76th Congress

1939-1940

Six bills were introduced in the 76th Congress. Five of these bills, H.R. 147, H.R. 6986/S.2780, H.R.7117 and H.R. 9361, were single status bills. The sixth bill, H.R. 9361, was an organic act providing for a greater degree of home rule. The 76th 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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