Pablo Hernández (D-PR)
Puerto Rico Democratic Self Determination Act
A Democratic bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Puerto Rico Democratic Self Determination Act allows the people of Puerto Rico to decide their political status through a plebiscite. Voters will choose between four options: Independence, Commonwealth, Statehood, or Sovereignty in Free Association with the United States. If no option receives a majority in the first vote, a runoff will be held. The bill outlines specific transition and implementation processes for each possible outcome. It also provides for voter education and the eventual termination of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +8
Does this protect the right to vote?
Provides a structured democratic process for self-determination via plebiscite.
- Scored +7
Does this make elections run better?
Establishes a clear, documented, and observed process for resolving political status.
- Scored +7
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
Explicitly protects vested rights and benefits for veterans.
The opposite· 3 of 6
- Scored -5
Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens?
Independence or free association would remove birth in Puerto Rico as a basis for US citizenship.
- Scored -4
Would immigrants be better off under this?
Sovereignty would make Puerto Rican citizens subject to US immigration laws.
- Scored -3
Does this give the federal government more power?
Allows for the eventual total withdrawal of US sovereignty over Puerto Rico.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Democratic Choice: The bill enables eligible voters to express their preference for Puerto Rico's political status through a plebiscite (Section 4).
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Voter Education: It mandates a nonpartisan voter education campaign to ensure voters are informed about international representation, citizenship, immigration, and federal program access (Section 5).
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Language Accessibility: All ballots and educational materials must be available in both English and Spanish (Section 8).
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Protection of Benefits: For those choosing independence or free association, vested rights and benefits for veterans, retired government employees, and Social Security beneficiaries will not be interrupted (Section 111(a) and Section 413(a)).
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Removal of Oversight: The Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act and its associated board will be terminated upon admission as a state, the start of a new nation, or two years after a commonwealth vote (Section 9).
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Equal Status: If statehood is chosen, Puerto Rico will be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with all other states (Section 301).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Loss of US Citizenship at Birth: Under independence or sovereignty in free association, birth in Puerto Rico will no longer be a basis for US nationality or citizenship (Section 4(b)(2)(C), Section 4(b)(5)(D), Section 110(a)(1), and Section 408(a)(1)).
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Tax Burdens: If statehood is chosen, individuals and businesses will become subject to US Federal tax laws (Section 4(b)(4)(D)).
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Reduced Federal Funding: Under independence or free association, federal transfer payments will eventually decrease by 10 percent each year starting in the eleventh fiscal year (Section 111(c)(3) and Section 413(c)(2)).
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Immigration Restrictions: Citizens of a sovereign Puerto Rico seeking to enter the US would become subject to US immigration laws, although some nonimmigrant residence and work authorizations are provided for a limited time (Section 110(a)(2) and Section 408(a)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make elections run better? — Establishes a clear, documented, and observed process for resolving political status. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Offers a path to statehood on an equal footing with other US states. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Requires any new constitution for Puerto Rico to guarantee due process and equal protection. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires international election observers to ensure transparency. Does this give the federal government more power? — Allows for the eventual total withdrawal of US sovereignty over Puerto Rico.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Explicitly protects vested rights and benefits for veterans. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Directly empowers Puerto Rican residents to determine their political future. Would retired people be better off under this? — Ensures continuity of retirement and Social Security benefits. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Specifically protects vested Social Security and retirement benefits. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Sovereignty would make Puerto Rican citizens subject to US immigration laws. Would children be better off under this? — Future children born in Puerto Rico could lose US citizenship depending on the vote outcome. Would business owners be better off under this? — Statehood would subject local businesses to full US federal tax laws. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Federal transfer payments would eventually decrease by 10% annually under independence/free association.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this protect the right to vote? — Provides a structured democratic process for self-determination via plebiscite. Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice? — Mandates bilingual materials and nonpartisan voter education to ensure accessibility. Does this strengthen Social Security? — Protects current Social Security beneficiaries and provides a mechanism to transfer contributions to a new national system. Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens? — Independence or free association would remove birth in Puerto Rico as a basis for US citizenship.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — Ensures that vested rights and benefits for veterans are not interrupted.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — Protects vested healthcare benefits for veterans regardless of the chosen status.
- 6/15/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/11/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/10/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Wesley BellDemocrat · Missouri
Val HoyleDemocrat · Oregon
Julie JohnsonDemocrat · Texas
John LarsonDemocrat · Connecticut
Analilia MejiaDemocrat · New Jersey
Deborah RossDemocrat · North Carolina
Brad ShermanDemocrat · California
Bennie ThompsonDemocrat · Mississippi
Derek TranDemocrat · California