On January 19, 1977, during the 1st Session of the 95th Congress, Republican Representative Philip E. Ruppe of Michigan (R-MI) introduced H.R. 2201 in the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. This status bill enabled the people of Puerto Rico to form a constitution, a state government and to be subsequently admitted into the Union.
On May 1, 1963, during the 1st Session of the 88th Congress, Democrat Representative Jacob H. Gilbert of New York (D-NY) introduced H.R. 5991 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 March 13, 1950, during the 2nd Session of the 81st Congress, Puerto Rican Popular Democratic Party Resident Commissioner Antonio Fernós-Isern of Puerto Rico (PPD-PR) introduced H.R. 7674 in the House Committee on Public Lands. This bill was accompanied by S. 3336, which was simultaneously introduced in the Senate. This congressional enactment sought to organize a constitutional government for Puerto Rico.
During the 3rd Session of the 76th Congress, on April 12, 1940, Democrat and member of the Puerto Rican conservative Coalición, Resident Commissioner Bolivar Pagan (D/Coalición-PR) introduced H.R. 9360 in the House Committee on the Territories. This was a status bill calling for the admission of Puerto Rico into the Union on an equal footing with the states.
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.
During the 1st Session of the 75th Congress, on January 6, 1937, Democrat and Socialist member of the conservative Coalición, Resident Commissioner Santiago Iglesias of Puerto Rico (D/Coalición-PR) introduced H.R. 1992 in the House Committee on Insular Affairs. This status bill called for the admission of Puerto Rico into the Union on an equal footing with the states.
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 January 4, 1995, during the 1st Session of the 104th Congress, Democrat Representative José E. Serrano from New York (D-NY) introduced H.Con.Res. 11 in the House Committee on International Relations. This resolution affirmed Congress support of the right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination.
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 March 18, 2021, during the 1st Session of the 117th Congress, Democrat Senator Robert Menendez introduced S. 865 (accompanied by H.R. 2070 in the House) in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. This bill recognized the right of the people of Puerto Rico to call a status convention through which the people would exercise their natural right to self-determination, and to establish a mechanism for congressional consideration of such decision.
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