Will Rising Clamor For Puerto Rican Statehood Reach Congressional Ears?

TALLAHASSEE, FL—A measure that would force Congress to recognize Puerto Rico as a state—if that's what the islanders vote for on November 5th—is working its way through Washington, D.C. as Floridian support for the potential 51st state in America grows.

This is Congress's most recent attempt at pushing through the legislation, entitled the "Puerto Rico Status Act" after it passed the House too late in the Session for it to be considered in the Senate in 2022. Seven House members from Florida are supporting the measure, which legally binds the U.S. to follow through with what Puerto Ricans vote for on Election Day.

This will be the island' seventh plebiscite vote in which they ask for statehood, which they have voted for every time. This time, however, the option to remain a territory will be nixed from the list of options; leaving statehood, independence, or independent free association.

And, if the ever-more-popular Status Act passes Congress, Puerto Ricans will get their wish.

As November draws nearer, Floridian support for the measure appears to be increasing: one Orlando Sentinel op-ed argues that because Florida has the largest Puerto Rican population with over a million residents—385,000 of which are located in Central Florida—granting Puerto Rico statehood would boost Florida's "economic prosperity."

"Puerto Rican entrepreneurship and commercial activity is fundamental to the economic prosperity of Florida," the piece reads. "While statehood would help fix the fiscal and civil inequality endured by our fellow U.S. citizens on the island, supporting Puerto Rico’s admission as the 51st state would also bolster and strengthen Florida’s economy and commercial ties to the island."

"The time for Scott and Rubio to act is now."

Florida's Republican Senators, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, have both expressed their past doubts that a Puerto Rican statehood bill could get across the finish line. However, with a massive bipartisan delegation backing the measure and increasing Floridian support, it appears more likely that the two will endorse it.

Our fellow American citizens in Puerto Rico have democratically expressed their support for becoming a state,” Rubio said after 53% voted for statehood in the 2020 plebiscite vote. “I urge my Senate colleagues to keep an open mind and learn more about statehood before taking a firm position in opposition. I will continue to do my part to one day achieve the 60 votes needed in the Senate for admission."

"Right now there is not enough support in Congress for Puerto Rico to become a state. But, I believe that as long as Puerto Rico fixes its fiscal affairs, there will be an opportunity for Puerto Rico to become a state,” Scott said in 2022, expressing concern over a lack of support for the Status Act.

"How long is too long? Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory for 125 years. During that time, our fellow U.S. citizens on the island — currently 3.2 million — have remained disenfranchised and unfairly treated as second-class citizens," said one op-ed from The Hill. "The lack of full equality under federal laws and voting representation at the federal level for the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico due to territorial status has drastic consequences and is unsustainable."

The bill passed the House of Representatives in 2022 with strong bipartisan support, but because it did so too late in the session, Congress had to reinvigorate it later. Florida man Rep. Darren Soto, a Puerto Rican Democrat, introduced the "Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act", a 2021 blueprint bill to the bill now awaiting approval.