Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González Colón signed a legislative measure on Friday, accompanied by lawmakers, agency heads, and Republican Party national delegate Zoraida Fonalledas, requesting admission of Puerto Rico as a US state. This is the first step in efforts to achieve statehood, said González Colón, who plans to promote a measure in Congress after the US midterm elections in November.
Commissioner Pablo José Hernández reacted, stating that the status will not change and the government should focus on fixing basic services like power and water. González Colón responded, arguing that poverty is rooted in the colonial condition, which limits access to basic needs, healthcare, and federal programs, causing many to move to Florida. The signed measure, House of Representatives Joint Resolution 391, commemorates the US Semiquincentennial and formally requests statehood.
González Colón stated that this measure allows for an official claim for statehood, unlike past plebiscites, and that this step was taken due to her 2024 electoral mandate. The measure resolves that the Legislative Assembly and the Governor of Puerto Rico reaffirm their commitment to the US Constitution and democratic self-governance. It also declares the formal request for statehood as public policy to achieve equal rights and responsibilities for US citizens residing in Puerto Rico.