As a member of the Congressional committee that oversees issues related to U.S. territories, I am writing to you to respectfully request that you honor the will of the voters of Puerto Rico and support a legislative solution for statehood as part of your policy agenda this year.

The November 2024 election saw voters on the island back statehood on their ballots by an overwhelming 58 percent — nearly double the next closest option — on a political status plebiscite vote.

For over 125 years, Puerto Rico has been a territorial colony of the United States. It’s more than 3.2 million U.S. citizens lack many basic democratic rights, having only one non-voting representative in the U.S. House, no U.S. Senators, and no chance to vote in presidential elections. Puerto Rico is also unfortunately often treated differently from states under U.S. law, and is therefore excluded from or discriminated against in some federal programs. This disparity has diminished quality of life for many in Puerto Rico, prevented them from growing their local economy, forced hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans to leave for the states, and has hurt veterans with less support and lower benefits. It is time to put this unequal treatment to an end.

Previous legislative efforts in recent years, including those before your committee, have earned strong bipartisan support but have ultimately failed to be enacted into law. And despite the ‘statehood’ option winning each of the last four most recent status votes, those referendums are non-binding. Ultimately, it is up to you and your colleagues in Congress to turn the will of the people of Puerto Rico into law and grant them a permanent solution to their status uncertainty. And with your role on the committee, your voice is especially meaningful.

As your constituent, I strongly urge you to work with your fellow committee members and your colleagues throughout Congress to introduce new legislation this year to honor the results of the recent plebiscite and ultimately support a legislative solution resolving Puerto Rico’s political status.

Congratulations on your committee appointment and thank you for considering my request. I believe statehood for Puerto Rico will lead to an even stronger future not just for the island, but for America as a whole.

I would like to congratulate you on your election to the 119th Congress. As you navigate your new role and develop your policy priorities and legislative agenda this year, I respectfully request that you honor the will of the voters of Puerto Rico and support a legislative solution for statehood.

This last election that welcomed you and your new colleagues to Congress also saw voters on the island back statehood on their ballots by an overwhelming 58 percent — nearly double the next closest option — on a political status plebiscite vote.

For over 125 years, Puerto Rico has been a territorial colony of the United States. It’s more than 3.2 million U.S. citizens lack many basic democratic rights, having only one non-voting representative in the U.S. House, no U.S. Senators, and no chance to vote in presidential elections. Puerto Rico is also unfortunately often treated differently from states under U.S. law, and is therefore excluded from or discriminated against in some federal programs. This disparity has diminished quality of life for many in Puerto Rico, prevented them from growing their local economy, forced hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans to leave for the states, and has hurt veterans with less support and lower benefits. It is time to put this unequal treatment to an end.

Previous legislative efforts in recent years have earned strong bipartisan support, but have ultimately failed to be enacted into law. And despite the ‘statehood’ option winning each of the last four most recent status votes, those referendums are non-binding. Ultimately, it is up to you and your colleagues in Congress to turn the will of the people of Puerto Rico into law and grant them a permanent solution to their status uncertainty.

As your constituent, I strongly urge you to work with your fellow members of Congress to introduce new legislation this year to honor the results of the recent plebiscite and ultimately support a legislative solution resolving Puerto Rico’s political status.

Congratulations on your new role in the U.S. Congress and thank you for considering my request. I believe statehood for Puerto Rico will lead to an even stronger future not just for the island, but for America as a whole.

As you develop your policy priorities and governing agenda this year, I respectfully request that you honor the will of the voters of Puerto Rico and support a legislative solution for statehood.

The November 2024 election saw voters on the island back statehood on their ballots by an overwhelming 58 percent — nearly double the next closest option — on a political status plebiscite vote.

For over 125 years, Puerto Rico has been a territorial colony of the United States. It’s more than 3.2 million U.S. citizens lack many basic democratic rights, having only one non-voting representative in the U.S. House, no U.S. Senators, and no chance to vote in presidential elections. Puerto Rico is also unfortunately often treated differently from states under U.S. law, and is therefore excluded or discriminated against in some federal programs. This disparity has diminished the quality of life for many in Puerto Rico, prevented them from growing their local economy, forced hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans to leave for the states, and has hurt veterans with less support and lower benefits. It is time to put this unequal treatment to an end.

Previous legislative efforts in recent years have earned strong bipartisan support but have ultimately failed to be enacted into law. And despite the ‘statehood’ option winning each of the last four most recent status votes, those referendums are non-binding. Ultimately, it is up to you and your colleagues in Congress to turn the will of the people of Puerto Rico into law and grant them a permanent solution to their status uncertainty.

As your constituent, I strongly urge you to work with your colleagues throughout Congress to introduce new legislation this year to honor the results of the recent plebiscite and ultimately support a legislative solution resolving Puerto Rico’s political status.

Thank you for considering my request. I believe statehood for Puerto Rico will lead to an even stronger future not just for the island, but for America as a whole.