Democratic lawmakers introduce legislation to end Puerto Rico's 'colonial status'

A group of Democrats offered an alternative to Puerto Rican statehood Thursday to end the island's "colonial status," saying the U.S. commonwealth should decide its own future. The Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2020 calls for a “status convention” for residents of Puerto Rico to vote on what type of status they want going forward.

Although the legislation does not support one status over another like a competing bill, which offers Puerto Rico statehood, the Self-Determination Act calls for Puerto Rican voters to elect a group of delegates to study the island’s status issue and propose options such as statehood, independence, and free association, but the current commonwealth status would not be an option.

PUERTO RICO STATEHOOD BILL GETS BIPARTISAN PUSH

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer received a letter from over 80 activist groups in 16 states and Puerto Rico requesting they pass the bill co-authored by New York Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velazquez, both left-wing Democrats and of Puerto Rican heritage.