The House of Representatives on Dec. 15 passed a bill that would determine the future political status of Puerto Rico.
Currently, the Central American island exists in an in-between status as a protectorate of the United States. The citizens of Puerto Rico have a voice in Congress through an elected delegate, but this delegate is not permitted to vote on federal legislation.
The bill passed by the House on Dec. 15, dubbed the “Puerto Rico Status Act,” would call for a binding plebiscite on Puerto Rico’s future political status, giving residents the option to choose between full-fledged independence, joining the union as the 51st state, or independence followed by free association with the United States….