National

‘It’s about time’: House passes act that would allow Puerto Ricans to vote on statehood

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The people of Puerto Rico are one step closer to deciding whether the island should be a state.

The House of Representatives passed the “Puerto Rico Status Act” on Thursday. If it passes through the Senate, Puerto Ricans will get to vote on statehood next November.

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With lawmakers set to go on break next Friday, they have just one week to bring the act to the floor for debate and get a vote passed.

More than 200 lawmakers, including Florida Rep. Darren Soto, voted in favor of the act, which would give Puerto Ricans the choice of being a U.S. state, it own independent country or under U.S. sovereignty.

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Those against the bill took issue with the fact that giving Puerto Ricans the choice to stay a territory wasn’t an option.

Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico Jeniffer Gonzalez-Colon said after residents feeling like second-class citizens, the island deserves to be a state.

Central Florida resident Reinaldo Massannet, who is from Puerto Rico, said he appreciates the idea of statehood, but casts doubt that the Senate will get the act passed in time.

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“It’s like they’re throwing something at the last minute before they go on break. It’s going to be a while — there’s going to be a lot of discussions, but after all Puerto Ricans have done for this country, we more than deserve it. It’s about time,” he said.

When lawmakers return Jan. 3, it will be a Republican-led Congress, which would restart the legislative process.

If it does pass, that vote will happen in Puerto Rico on Nov. 23.

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Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.