On October January 3, 1989, during the 1st Session of the 91st Congress, Democrat Representative Richard L. Ottinger of New York (R-NY) introduced H.R. 499 in the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. This status bill sought to provide the admission of Puerto Rico into the Union, on an equal footing with the original states.
Public Law 88-271 was enacted on February 20, 1964, during the 1st Session of the 88th Congress. Public Law 88-271 authorized the creation of the United States Commission on the Status of Puerto Rico. Central to this Commission was the potential development of a status plebiscite.
On March 2, 1954, during the 2nd Session of the 83rd Congress, Republican Representative Page H. Belcher of Oklahoma (R-OK) introduced H.Res. 455 in the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. This resolution called for an island wide referendum on whether Puerto Rico should become totally independent from the United States.
On December 6, 1899, during the 1st Session of the 56th Congress, Republican Senator William E. Chandler of New Hampshire (R-NH) introduced S. 335 in the Senate Committee on Finance. The Organic Act imposed a 25% tariff on merchandize imported from Puerto Rico into the United States. This organic act treated Puerto Rico as a foreign country for constitutional purposes.
Reload document 
Open in new tab