A report from the United States Institute of Peace details the impact of China’s influence on nations that are in free association with the United States. These nations are the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). Each is an independent nation with a special… Read more »

The House of Representatives passed HR8393, the Puerto Rico Status Act, with all House Democrats and 16 Republicans voting in favor. Members of the House then took to Twitter to share their reactions. Announcements Many of the tweets from Congress were in the nature of announcements. Reps like Grace Meng (D-NY) and Jimmy Gomez (D-CA)… Read more »

The House passed the Puerto Rico Status Act (PRSA) on December 15, 2022. News outlets have described this event as “a vote on statehood or independence,” a “Bill Allowing Puerto Rico to Hold Statehood Referendum,” and even as an “independence vote bill.” It would be more accurate to report that the House has passed a bill… Read more »

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has announced that the Puerto Rico Status Act will be considered by the House of Representatives tomorrow. The proposal calls for a referendum vote that would enable Puerto Ricans to choose from among three alternatives to Puerto Rico’s current status as a U.S. territory: statehood, independence and independence followed… Read more »

Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R) kicked off a firestorm on December 8th when, in the context of a disagreement with New York Congresswoman  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , she observed that “a congresswoman from New York wants to prevent us Puerto Ricans from having that power to vote, while she enjoys it in New York. The… Read more »

Although the dignity afforded through Puerto Rico statehood is appealing to most Puerto Ricans, there are skeptics on the island whose interest in statehood is tempered by the belief that statehood will never happen, no matter how hard they push for it. Last week, Congress delivered a message to those skeptics when it enacted into… Read more »

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators met this month for their National Summit. Among the resolutions they supported was a call for Puerto Rico to be included in SNAP, the national food stamps program. The resolution was presented by the president of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, Rafael “Tatito” Hernández Montañez, and state legislators… Read more »

Should the U.S. acknowledge its racist past that is on display in the Insular Cases?  A bill introduced by the current Congress asks the nation to do just this. The Insular Cases are a series of Supreme Court cases decided in the early 1990’s.  HR 279, a bill introduced in the spring of 2021, calls on… Read more »

In the Puerto Rico Statehood Act (HR 8393), a legislative proposal that appears to be dying as Congress prepares to adjourn for the year, U.S. citizenship is “recognized, protected, and secured” only if Puerto Rico becomes a state. Some supporters of nationhood for Puerto Rico – either clean independence or in a free association arrangement… Read more »

Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico (FADEP) v. Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico,  is a U.S. court case brought by the Puerto Rico teachers’ union after the PROMESA Fiscal Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) extended the retirement age for teachers and reduced their pensions. The case also specifically asked for a review… Read more »