Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday tried to lay the groundwork for Puerto Rico to become a state, introducing a bill that would set up a vote for residents to decide on statehood and the election of its own senators and representatives.
The bill was introduced by Representative Darren Soto of Florida, a Democrat, and Delegate Jenniffer González-Colón, the island's resident commissioner, a Republican, and Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico plans to introduce it in the Senate. The measure has the backing of Puerto Rican Governor Pedro Pierluisi. Its supporters argue that the federal government doesn't treat Puerto Rican citizens equally, something statehood would help rectify.
In November, Puerto Rico residents voted 52 to 48% in favor of immediate statehood on a ballot referendum. But the congressional passage of Puerto Rico statehood is far from guaranteed. In the Senate, the measure would need 60 votes, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has declared that statehood for the island would result in the election of two more Democratic senators, though there's no guarantee that this would be the case.
