The House of Representatives has passed the Build Back Better Act and it has gone on to the Senate. There are likely to be changes made in the Senate before the bill goes on to President Biden’s desk. As approved by the House, the Build Back Better bill would increase Medicaid funding to Puerto Rico, providing… Read more »

Puerto Rican performers always show strongly at the Latin Grammy Awards, and 2021 was no exception. Bad Bunny won in the “Best Urban Music Album” category. Myke Towers, Eladio Carrion, and Ozuna were also nominated in this category. Bad Bunny also won “Best Rap/Hip-Hop Song.” Marc Anthony and Rauw Alejandro were both nominated in the “Record… Read more »

The federal Medicaid program partners with states to provide health care for the neediest U.S. citizens. Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories, however, are not included in the federal Medicaid program. Instead, the territories receive limited, lump-sum funding each year.  This amount does not respond to need, and the enhanced funding amount that has been… Read more »

Puerto Rico’s options for non-territorial status under the U.S. Constitution boil down to two possibilities: statehood independence Puerto Rico can continue as a territory belonging to the United States indefinitely, but there really are no other choices. One possibility for a new nation of Puerto Rico would be independence with Free Association. Those who favor… Read more »

The U.N.’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) held a virtual meeting to discuss the economic consequences of chronic diseases in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico was one of the locations covered. “The high prevalence of non-communicable diseases in the Caribbean – such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer – is exacerbating… Read more »

Michael D. Brown is one of D.C.’s shadow senators. He wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post in which he stated, “It’s simple: If you want to be equal in the United States, you need to be a state.” Brown is calling for voting rights for Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court affirmed last month… Read more »

The 19th Amendment, which says, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex,” was ratified in 1920, giving American women the right to vote. Puerto Rican women were U.S. citizens in 1920, having achieved citizenship… Read more »

The Puerto Rico Statehood Action Network and Puerto Ricans in Hillsborough County will host a press conference in Tampa, Florida, on November 9th, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. The press conference will support a statehood demonstration in response to the Supreme Court case on SSI benefits in Puerto Rico. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments… Read more »

The White House has published a fact sheet called “The Build Back Better Framework Will Deliver for Puerto Rico.” The document details the federal support for the territory included in the Biden Build Back Better Framework, currently being debated in Congress. The statement makes it clear that federal benefits for Puerto Rico are not intended… Read more »

On November 3, 2020, Puerto Rico voters chose statehood in a yes/no vote. 53% of voters selected “Yes,” and 48% chose “No.” One year later, Congress is still mulling over the issue. Two status bills Two Puerto Rico status bills are currently under consideration by the House Natural Resources Committee, which oversees legislation relating to… Read more »