The representative of Puerto Rico in Congress introduced a bill granting the island by 2021 the status of another US state.
Yesterday, June 27, Jennifer Gonzalez said that 14 Democrats and 20 Republicans are promoting the bill among the 435 members of the house of representatives. «This is the first step to start a serious discussion of the final status of the island,» said Gonzalez.
The bill provides for the creation of a bipartisan task force of 9 people. This group will be asked to submit to the Congress and President Donald Trump with the report:
- an indication of the laws that have to change or cancel to Puerto Rico could become a state;
- recommendations temporary economic measures to facilitate the island’s transition to the status state.
Recall that since 1898 Puerto Rico is the so-called «unincorporated» territory of the United States. Its residents are U.S. citizens, although they are not allowed to vote in presidential elections and they have only one representative in the Congress with limited powers.
According to the Governor of Puerto Rico Ricardo Rossello, unequal in comparison with other States the status is the reason that 5.4 million Puerto Ricans residing in the continental United States. In addition, the economy of the island suffered greatly from hurricane «Maria» in September 2017. As a result, he was on the verge of a demographic disaster.
«We don’t want ambiguity. We need more clarity. Congress doesn’t with us or he is against the people of Puerto Rico,» said Rossello.
