On January 8, 1900, during the 1st Session of the 56th Congress, Democratic Representative John F.
Lacey of Iowa (D-IA) introduced H.R. 5466 in the House Committee on Insular Areas. The bill was
an organic or territorial act.
During the 1st Session of the 76th Congress, on January 3, 1939, Democrat and Socialist member of the conservative Coalición, Resident Commissioner Santiago Iglesias of Puerto Rico (D/Coalición-PR) introduced H.R. 147 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, Republican Representative John H. Kyl of Iowa (R-IA) introduced H.R. 5947 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 September 27, 1996, during the 2nd Session of the 104th Congress, Republican Representative Don E. Young of Alaska (R-AK) initially introduced H.R. 4228 in the Committee on Resources. This bill provided a plebiscitary process leading to the full self-government of Puerto Rico.
On February 12, 2014, during the 2nd Session of the 113th Congress, Democrat Senator Martin Heinrich from New Mexico (D-NM) introduced S. 2020 (accompanied by S. 2000 in the House) in the House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. This status bill set forth a process for Puerto Rico to be admitted as a state of the Union.
On April 20, 2023, during the 1st Session of the 118th Congress, Democrat Representative Raúl Grijalva of Arizona (D-AZ) introduced H.R. 2757 in the House Committee on Natural Resources. This bill enabled the people of Puerto Rico to choose a permanent, non-territorial, fully self-governing political status for Puerto Rico and to provide for a transition to and the implementation of that permanent, non-territorial, fully self-governing political status. The three territorial options included in this bill are Statehood, Independence, and Sovereignty in Free Association.
On July 1, 1976, during the 2nd Session of the 94th Congress, Democrat Representative Roland V. Dellums of California (D-CA) introduced H.J. Res. 1010 in the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. This status bill provided for the independence of Puerto Rico.
On May 6, 1963, during the 1st Session of the 88th Congress, Democrat Representative Henry B. Gonzalez of Texas (D-TX) introduced H.R. 6083 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.
Public Law 82-447 was enacted on July 3, 1952, during the 2nd Session of the 82nd Congress. Public Law 82-447 authorized the approval of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Commonwealth Constitution did not change Puerto Rico’s constitutional status. Puerto Rico remained an unincorporated territory.
Public Law 114-187 was enacted on June 30, 2016, during the 1st Session of the 114th Congress. Public Law 114-187 authorized the creation of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). This law affirmed the right of Puerto Ricans to determine its future political status including by conducting a plebiscite authorized by Public Law 113-76.
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