congress

104th Congress

Posted on August 8, 2023March 13, 2024 by Kerr, Haydn

104th Congress

1995-1996

Five bills were introduced in the 104th Congress. One resolution, H. Con. Res. 11, affirmed the right of Puerto Ricans self-determination over the status of Puerto Rico. The four additional bills debated during this Congress, H.R. 3024, S. 2019, H.R. 4228 and H.R. 4281, proposed various types of plebiscites to determine the future status of the Puerto Rican islands. These plebiscites offered various mechanism enabling Puerto Rican electors to choose among multiple status alternatives. The 104th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.

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63rd Congress

Posted on August 8, 2023March 12, 2024 by Kerr, Haydn

86th Congress

Posted on August 8, 2023March 13, 2024 by Kerr, Haydn

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

Posted on August 8, 2023March 18, 2024 by Kerr, Haydn

64th Congress

Posted on August 8, 2023March 12, 2024 by Kerr, Haydn

88th Congress

Posted on August 8, 2023March 17, 2024 by Kerr, Haydn

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

Posted on August 8, 2023March 13, 2024 by Kerr, Haydn

66th Congress

Posted on August 8, 2023March 12, 2024 by Kerr, Haydn

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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