Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Purpose of Cookies:
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Types of Cookies:
Session Cookies:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
What They Do:
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
What's Inside an Authentication Cookie?
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
What They Track:
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
1. Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
2. Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
3. Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
4. Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
5. On Mobile (iOS/Android)
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Be Aware:
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Three status bills were introduced in the 116th Congress. Two bills, H.R. 1965 and H.R. 4901 advocated for statehood. The third bill, H.R. 8113 called for a self-determination process to identify a final status solution. The 116th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.
Only one status bill was introduced in the 77th Congress, H.R. 7352. It was an organic act, with a provision for a greater degree of self-government. The 77th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.
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.
Six plebiscitary bills were introduced during the 117th Congress. The first four bills introduced, namely H.R. 1522/S. 780, H.R. 2070/S. 865, excluded the “Commonwealth” as a status option or alternative for Puerto Rican voters. A fifth plebiscitary bill introduced in the Senate, S. 4560, included the Commonwealth option. A sixth bill, H.R. 8393, reconciled the first four bills and ultimately passed a House vote prior to the closing of the 117th Congress.
