I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1522 

To provide for the admission of the State of Puerto Rico into the Union. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 2, 2021 

Mr. SOTO (for himself, Miss GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N, Mrs. MURPHY of Florida, Mr. 

YOUNG, Mr. TORRES of New York, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. 

BACON, Mr. BERA, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. 

BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. CARSON, Ms. 

CASTOR of Florida, Mr. CORREA, Mr. CRIST, Mrs. DEMINGS, Mr. 

DEUTCH, Mr. EVANS, Mr. FOSTER, Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. 

GALLEGO, Mr. GARBARINO, Mr. GIMENEZ, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. KATKO, 

Mr. KILMER, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. NORCROSS, 

Ms. PLASKETT, Mr. POSEY, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, Ms. SALAZAR, Mr. SAN

NICOLAS, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. SIRES, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. SWALWELL, Mr. 

TRONE, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. WALTZ, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. 

WILD, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. GOMEZ, Mr. BROWN, Mr. JOHNSON

of Georgia, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. BEYER, Mr. COHEN, and Ms. BARRAGA ́N) 

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To provide for the admission of the State of Puerto Rico 

into the Union. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Puerto Rico Statehood 

3 Admission Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

5 The Congress finds the following: 

6 (1) United States national sovereignty in Puer7 to Rico was established by the Treaty of Paris be8 tween the United States and the Kingdom of Spain 

9 (30 Stat. 1754), signed on December 10, 1898. 

10 (2) Puerto Rico is governed by the United 

11 States under laws enacted by Congress in the exer12 cise of its power to make rules and regulations gov13 erning territory belonging to the United States, pur14 suant to article IV, section 3, clause 2 of the Con15 stitution. 

16 (3) For reasons of precedent primarily related 

17 to the Philippines also ceded by Spain after the 

18 Spanish-American War, substantially the same ma19 jority in the United States Supreme Court that es20 tablished the ‘‘separate but equal’’ doctrine in Plessy 

21 v. Ferguson determined in the 1901 Downes v. 

22 Bidwell decision that Puerto Rico was an unincor23 porated territory of the United States, a status of 

24 possession that continues today. 

25 (4) After agreeing to independence for the Phil26 ippines, also acquired through the Spanish-American 


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1 War, on March 2, 1917, Congress granted statutory 

2 United States citizenship to the residents of Puerto 

3 Rico. Such action has historically led to incorpora4 tion and eventual statehood but was denied to Puer5 to Rico due to anomalies emanating from the 1901 

6 Downes ruling and its progeny, even as fellow Amer7 icans in Hawaii and Alaska attained statehood. 

8 (5) Puerto Rico has a territorial constitution 

9 that is republican in form and compatible with the 

10 United States Constitution as well as the principles 

11 of the Declaration of Independence, and that is 

12 equivalent to a State constitution, having been 

13 democratically ratified by the United States citizens 

14 of the territory on November 4, 1952, and subse15 quently approved by the Congress of the United 

16 States through Public Law 82–447. 

17 (6) Thirty-two territories previously have peti18 tioned Congress for statehood based on democrat19 ically expressed consent of the governed, and each 

20 was duly admitted as a State of the Union pursuant 

21 to article IV, section 3, clause 1 of the United States 

22 Constitution, with equal rights and responsibilities of 

23 national and State citizenship under the United 

24 States Constitution. 


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1 (7) Puerto Ricans have contributed greatly to 

2 the nation and its culture and distinguished them3 selves in every field of endeavor. However, the denial 

4 of equal voting representation and equal treatment 

5 by the Federal Government stands in stark contrast 

6 to their contributions. 

7 (8) Since becoming a United States territory, 

8 more than 235,000 American citizens of Puerto 

9 Rican heritage have served in the United States 

10 military. 

11 (9) Thousands of United States military service 

12 members of Puerto Rican heritage have received nu13 merous medals, distinctions, and commendations of 

14 every degree, including for valorous military service 

15 in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. 

16 (10) Nine United States military service mem17 bers from Puerto Rico have been awarded the Medal 

18 of Honor, and many have been awarded the Distin19 guished Service Cross or the Navy Cross. 

20 (11) The 65th Infantry Regiment in Puerto 

21 Rico (known as the ‘‘Borinqueneers’’) was awarded 

22 the Congressional Gold Medal (Public Law 113– 

23 120) for its contributions and sacrifices in the 

24 armed conflicts of the United States, including 

25 World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. 


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1 (12) To further recognize and pay tribute to 

2 the bravery of the Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th 

3 Infantry Regiment, Congress expressed support for 

4 the designation of April 13 as National 

5 Borinqueneers Day in the National Defense Author6 ization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116– 

7 283). 

8 (13) Unincorporated territory status means 

9 that Federal laws can be applied to Puerto Rico and 

10 its American citizens differently, on unequal and, at 

11 times inequitable terms, compared not only to the 

12 States and their residents, but also unlike territories 

13 that are parts of the United States. This has limited 

14 the development of Puerto Rico and hindered its 

15 economy. 

16 (14) Unincorporated territory status has re17 sulted in millions of residents leaving Puerto Rico to 

18 secure equal rights of citizenship attainable only in 

19 a State, and that enable Americans to seek greater 

20 opportunities and a better quality of life in the 

21 States. Approximately 65 percent of all people of 

22 Puerto Rican origin now live in the States, with the 

23 increasing rate of population loss in the territory 

24 creating a severe strain on the local tax base and 

25 workforce participation. 


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1 (15) Other than its unincorporated territory 

2 status and its unequal treatment under some Fed3 eral laws, Puerto Rico is socially, economically, po4 litically, and legally integrated into the nation. Nu5 merous territories admitted as States did not have 

6 as strong a record of self-determination favoring 

7 statehood as the majority votes by American citizens 

8 in Puerto Rico favoring admission to the Union. 

9 (16) In November 2012, a majority of voters 

10 rejected continuation of the current territory status, 

11 and 61.2 percent of those expressing a choice on sta12 tus alternatives chose statehood. 

13 (17) In June 2017, a vote was held to confirm 

14 the aspirations of the people of Puerto Rico. As ad15 vised by the United States Department of Justice, 

16 all available status options were included in the bal17 lot. Amid an opposition boycott, statehood received 

18 97 percent of the votes casted, while independence 

19 and the current status received less than 3 percent 

20 of the vote. 

21 (18) In November 2020, following Alaska and 

22 Hawaii precedent, Puerto Rico voters were presented 

23 with the question: ‘‘Should Puerto Rico be admitted 

24 immediately into the Union as a State? Yes or No’’. 


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1 A clear majority of 52.52 percent voted in the af2 firmative. 

3 (19) In December 2020, the Puerto Rico legis4 lature, following the absolute majority victory ob5 tained by statehood in the plebiscite, approved a 

6 Joint Resolution petitioning, on behalf of the People 

7 of Puerto Rico, that Congress and the President of 

8 the United States admit Puerto Rico into the Union 

9 as a State and appointed official representatives to 

10 manage the transition to statehood. 

11 (20) No large and populous United States terri12 tory inhabited by American citizens that has peti13 tioned for statehood has been denied admission into 

14 the Union. 

15 SEC. 3. ADMISSION. 

16 Subject to the provisions of this Act, and upon 

17 issuance of the proclamation required by section 7(c), the 

18 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is hereby declared to be 

19 a State of the United States of America, and as such shall 

20 be declared admitted into the Union on an equal footing 

21 with the other States in all respects. 

22 SEC. 4. PHYSICAL TERRITORY. 

23 The State of Puerto Rico shall consist of all the is24 lands, together with their appurtenant reefs, seafloor, and 


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1 territorial waters in the seaward boundary, presently 

2 under the jurisdiction of the territory of Puerto Rico. 

3 SEC. 5. CONSTITUTION. 

4 The constitution of the State of Puerto Rico shall al5 ways be republican in form and shall not be repugnant 

6 to the Constitution of the United States and the principles 

7 of the Declaration of Independence. The constitution of 

8 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as approved by Public 

9 Law 82–447 and subsequently amended, is hereby found 

10 to be republican in form and in conformity with the Con11 stitution of the United States and the principles of the 

12 Declaration of Independence, and is hereby accepted, rati13 fied, and confirmed as the constitution of said State. 

14 SEC. 6. CERTIFICATION BY PRESIDENT. 

15 Upon enactment of this Act, the President of the 

16 United States shall certify such fact to the Governor of 

17 Puerto Rico. Thereupon the Governor shall, within 30 

18 days after receipt of the official notification of such ap19 proval, issue a proclamation for the election of Senators 

20 and Representatives in Congress. 

21 SEC. 7. RATIFICATION VOTE. 

22 (a) RATIFICATION OF PROPOSITION.—At an election 

23 designated by proclamation of the Governor of Puerto 

24 Rico, which may be either the primary or the general elec25 tion held pursuant to section 8, or a territorial general 


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1 election, or a special election, there shall be submitted to 

2 voters, for adoption or rejection, a ballot with the following 

3 ratification question: ‘‘Shall Puerto Rico immediately be 

4 admitted into the Union as a State, in accordance with 

5 terms prescribed in the Act of Congress approved 

6 . . .. . .. . ... (date of approval of this Act)?: Yes 

7 lllll No lllll.’’. 

8 (b) CERTIFIED RESULTS.—If the foregoing propo9 sition is adopted by a majority of the votes cast in the 

10 election conducted under subsection (a), the President of 

11 the State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico shall cer12 tify the results of the election and shall transmit the cer13 tified results of the election to the Governor. Not later 

14 than 10 days after the date of certification, the Governor 

15 shall declare the results of the election and transmit the 

16 certified results of the submission to the President of the 

17 United States, the President pro tempore of the Senate, 

18 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

19 (c) PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION.—Upon receipt of 

20 the Governor’s declaration pursuant to subsection (b), the 

21 President of the United States shall issue a proclamation 

22 declaring certified the results of the submission and the 

23 date Puerto Rico is admitted as a State of the Union on 

24 an equal footing with all other States, which date must 

25 follow the certification of results of the general elections 


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1 required by section 6 of this Act, but not later than 12 

2 months from the date on which the aforementioned sub3 mission results were certified in order to facilitate a tran4 sition process. Upon issuance of the proclamation by the 

5 President, Puerto Rico shall be deemed admitted into the 

6 Union as a State. 

7 (d) TERMINATION OF ACT IF PROPOSITION NOT

8 ADOPTED.—If the foregoing proposition is not adopted by 

9 a majority votes cast in the election conducted under sub10 section (a), the provisions of this Act shall cease to be 

11 effective. 

12 SEC. 8. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. 

13 The proclamation by the Governor in section 6 shall 

14 designate and announce the dates and other requirements 

15 for primary and general elections under applicable Federal 

16 and local law for representation in the Senate and the 

17 House of Representatives in accordance with the following: 

18 (1) In the first election of Senators, the two 

19 senatorial offices shall be separately identified and 

20 designated, and no person may be a candidate for 

21 both offices. Nothing in this section shall impair the 

22 privilege of the Senate to determine the class and 

23 term to which each of the Senators-elect shall be as24 signed. 


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1 (2) In the first election of Representatives fol2 lowing admission, and subsequent elections until the 

3 next Census-based reapportionment cycle, Puerto 

4 Rico shall be entitled to the same number of Rep5 resentatives as the State whose most recent Census 

6 population was closest to, but less than, that of 

7 Puerto Rico, and such Representatives shall be in 

8 addition to the membership of the House of Rep9 resentatives as now prescribed by law: Provided, that 

10 any such increase in the membership shall not oper11 ate to either increase or decrease the permanent 

12 membership of the House of Representatives as pre13 scribed in the Act of August 8, 1911 (37 Stat. 13), 

14 nor shall such temporary increase affect the basis of 

15 apportionment established by the Act of November 

16 15, 1941 (55 Stat. 761; 2 U.S.C. 2a), for the 

17 Eighty-third Congress and each Congress thereafter, 

18 unless Congress acts to increase the total number of 

19 members of the House of Representatives. There20 after, the State of Puerto Rico shall be entitled to 

21 such number of Representatives as provided for by 

22 applicable law based on the next reapportionment. 

23 The apportionment of congressional districts for the 

24 first election and subsequent election of RepresentaVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:15 Apr 17, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1522.IH H1522

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1 tives shall be conducted as provided for by the Con2 stitution and laws of Puerto Rico. 

3 (3) The President of the State Elections Com4 mission of Puerto Rico shall certify the results of 

5 such primary and general elections to the Governor. 

6 Within 10 days of the date of each certification, the 

7 Governor shall declare the results of the primary 

8 and general elections, and transmit the results of 

9 each election to the President of the United States, 

10 the President pro tempore of the Senate, and the 

11 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

12 SEC. 9. CONTINUITY OF LAWS, GOVERNMENT, AND OBLIGA13 TIONS. 

14 Upon the admission of the State of Puerto Rico into 

15 the Union, the following shall apply: 

16 (1) CONTINUITY OF LAWS.—All laws of the 

17 United States and laws of Puerto Rico not in con18 flict with this Act shall continue in full force and ef19 fect following the date of admission of Puerto Rico 

20 as a State of the Union. 

21 (2) CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT.—The indi22 viduals holding legislative, executive, and judicial of23 fices of Puerto Rico shall continue to discharge the 

24 duties of their respective offices when Puerto Rico 

25 becomes a State of the Union. 


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1 (3) CONTINUITY OF OBLIGATIONS.—All con2 tracts, obligations, liabilities, debts, and claims of 

3 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its instru4 mentalities shall continue in full force and effect as 

5 the contracts, obligations, liabilities, debts, and 

6 claims of the State of Puerto Rico and its instru7 mentalities. 

8 (4) TITLE TO PROPERTY.—The State of Puerto 

9 Rico and its political subdivisions, as the case may 

10 be, shall have and retain title to all lands and other 

11 properties, real and personal, over which the terri12 tory and its subdivisions presently hold title. The 

13 United States shall retain title to all property, real 

14 and personal, to which it presently has title, includ15 ing public lands. 

16 SEC. 10. REPEALS. 

17 All Federal and territorial laws, rules, and regula18 tions, or parts of Federal and territorial laws, rules, and 

19 regulations, applicable to Puerto Rico that are incompat20 ible with the political and legal status of statehood under 

21 the Constitution and the provisions of this Act are re22 pealed and terminated as of the date of statehood admis23 sion proclaimed by the President under section 7(c) of this 

24 Act. Except for those parts that are not in conflict with 

25 this Act and the condition of statehood, the following shall 


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1 be deemed repealed upon the effective date of the admis2 sion of Puerto Rico as a State: 

3 (1) The Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act of 

4 1950 (Public Law 81–600). 

5 (2) The Act of July 3, 1950 (48 U.S.C. 731b– 

6 731e). 

7 (3) The Act of March 2, 1917 (Public Law 64– 

8 368). 

9 (4) The Act of April 12, 1900 (Public Law 56– 

10 191). 

11 SEC. 11. SEVERABILITY. 

12 If any provision of this Act, or any section, sub13 section, sentence, clause, phrase, or individual word, or the 

14 application thereof to any person or circumstance is held 

15 invalid by a court of jurisdiction, the validity of the re16 mainder of the Act and of the application of any such pro17 vision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or in18 dividual word to other persons and circumstances shall not 

19 be affected thereby. 

Æ 


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