Institute of Politics

Last year, members of Congress introduced two competing measures that could ultimately make significant changes for Puerto Rico. U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (D-Florida) introduced a bill that would grant statehood while U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-New York) filed her own measure to recognize the right of Puerto Ricans to have self-determination and decide amongst colonial options.

The introduction of both measures came more than a century after the United States acquired Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War. In 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted status as American citizens. By 1951, Puerto Rican voters approved a referendum to establish commonwealth status, which remains in effect today. The result is that Puerto Rico is considered neither an independent nation nor a state but is under the plenary power of Congress.

Puerto Rico’s status as a territory raises a host of complicated questions on issues ranging from human and civil rights to taxation and equal representation. The federal government’s response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017 led human rights advocates to express concern. In 2021, a coalition of organizations urged the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm that Puerto Ricans are entitled to equal protection under the U.S. Constitution. While most Puerto Ricans’ income is excluded from federal taxes, the commonwealth’s residents are also represented in Congress by a resident commissioner who has a voice but no vote in most Congressional matters.

Today, a wide range of movements about the future of Puerto Rico exists, with advocates pushing for independence, statehood and maintaining the status quo to name a few.

Joining us for this conversation about the future of Puerto Rico are:

• Yarimar Bonilla, professor and author, director of El Centro, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College
• Former U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, D-Illinois
• Melissa Mark-Viverito, former speaker of New York City Council
• José Bernardo Márquez, at-large member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, member of Citizens' Victory Movement

The conversation will be moderated by Carmen Yulín Cruz, former mayor of San Juan.