The Democratic National Committee (DNC) resolutions committee approved a measure on April 9 calling for immediate congressional action on Puerto Rico’s political status and the reintroduction and passage of the Puerto Rico Status Act. The initiative, one of 32 resolutions approved by the committee, focuses on “civil rights, voting rights, and equal representation,” and highlights Puerto Rico’s plebiscite votes in favor of statehood in 2012, 2017, 2020 and 2024.
Highlighting Civil Rights Leader John Lewis
The resolution builds on the legacy of former Congressman John Lewis (D-GA). “John Lewis, a moral giant of the Civil Rights Movement and longtime Member of Congress, devoted his life to the expansion of democracy and consistently affirmed that the people of Puerto Rico must be empowered to determine their own political future and achieve full equality as American citizens,” the resolution begins.
“Congressman Lewis co-sponsored the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act (H.R. 4901),” the resolution continues, “recognizing statehood as a path toward equal rights[.]” The Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act promised that should Puerto Rico vote for statehood, the U.S. territory “shall be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the other States, in all respects, so that the United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico shall have all rights, privileges, and duties enjoyed by the United States citizens in the several States.”
Lewis’s support for Puerto Rico is presented in the recently-passed resolution as motivation for “present-day Democratic leadership to move beyond rhetoric and ensure that the promise of equal citizenship is realized in practice for the 3.1 million United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico”
Self-determination
“Puerto Rico remains the oldest and most populous territory under United States jurisdiction, and its residents lack full voting representation in Congress and cannot vote for President and Vice President, despite their contributions to the nation’s economy, culture, and national defense,” according to the resolution.
The resolution then points out that Puerto Rico voters chose statehood as their preferred political status in past plebiscites and reminds readers that the United States House of Representatives passed the Puerto Rico Status Act (PRSA) in 2022, under which U.S. citizenship would be “recognized, protected, and secured” if Puerto Rico becomes a state, a commitment not offered under any other status option the bill presented for Puerto Rico. The PRSA never passed the Senate or become law.
“[F]ailure to act perpetuates a system of second-class citizenship incompatible with the constitutional values Democrats seek to uphold domestically and promote globally,” the resolution continues. “[A]dvancing Puerto Rico’s political status resolution is not only a matter of policy but a defining test of the Democratic Party’s commitment to civil rights, decolonization, and democratic legitimacy in the 21st century.”
Call to action
The resolution ends with a call for the DNC to ask Democratic legislators to reintroduce the Puerto Rico Status Act and prioritize its passage. It also urges the DNC and Democratic state organizations to “elevate Puerto Rico’s status resolution as a national civil rights priority.”
Finally, the resolution states, “The Democratic National Committee declares that the time for symbolic support has passed, and that the fulfillment of equal citizenship for Puerto Ricans demands immediate legislative action.”
Democratic support for self-determination for Puerto Rico
The Democratic Party platform has included provisions that encourage the resolution of Puerto Rico’s status several times over the decades. Past battles int the Democratic Party have been marked by contention between statehood and an perceived enhanced “commonwealth,” all while consistently supporting self-determination for Puerto Rico.
The Resolutions Committee considers resolutions presented by members, accepting or rejecting them on the basis of their connection with the principles of the party. The Resolutions Committee then presents the resolutions packet to the entire Democratic National Committee, which may adopt or reject the resolutions, or send them to a working group for further study. The acceptance of the resolution on Puerto Rico shows that it is in keeping with the views of the Democratic Party.
