The House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday afternoon that would allow residents of Puerto Rico to choose from three status options in a binding special election and end its 70-year-old current territorial status.
The bill, known as the Puerto Rico Status Act, would establish a plebiscite to be held in November 2023 in which eligible voters would choose from three options: statehood, independence or sovereignty in free association with the United States.
There were 233 votes in favor and 191 votes against the bill. The votes occurred mostly along party lines, with Democrats overwhelmingly voting in favor of the measure. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a Democrat from New York with roots in Puerto Rico, was the temporary speaker during the vote.
