As we prepare for the presidential election this year, we cannot be certain who will be the President of the United States in 2021. We cannot be sure who will be in the House and Senate in January. But we can be sure that someone will be able to claim the legacy of the 51st state of the Union.

The last president who could lay claim to have added a state to the Union was Dwight Eisenhower.

The next president to be able to claim bragging rights for adding a state to the Union could easily be Donald Trump or Joe Biden.

Isn’t it really Congress?

It is true that it is not the president, but Congress that actually has the power to add states to the United States. “New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union,” says Article IV, Section III of the U.S. Constitution. “The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States.”

Congress has the power under the U.S. Constitution to pass enabling acts and to admit new states.

However, the President of the United States gets to sign the proclamation making a new state. No president since Eisenhower has signed a proclamation making the United States larger. The next president could.

How can you help the president achieve this legacy?

There is currently a Puerto Rico Admissions bill in Congress. Contact your legislators and let them know that you want that bill passed immediately.

If this takes place in 2020, President Trump will get the credit.

2020 may not be the year that Puerto Rico gains statehood. In that case, you should register to vote and make sure to vote. If you live in a state, vote for your favorite presidential candidate, knowing that your choice could be the one who gets the legacy of admitting another state into the United States.

No matter who wins the election in November, make sure that you tell your representatives in Congress that you want statehood for Puerto Rico. If you have friends and family in the states, make sure they do the same.

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  1. “Legatus/ Legatia” meaning something transmitted or received from an ancestor or predecessor.

    During the American Revolution, our island ancestors smuggle ammunition and supplies for George Washington. Puerto Rican’s have served actively in our military since WWI. Over 5 million Puerto Ricans Health care workers, First responders, Scientists, Engineers, teachers, and families are an active part of our communities.

    Why continue to disenfranchise the US citizens of PR, because of their geographic location?-
    P RIcans living in the mainland have a first class USA citizenship. P Ricans living in the island, do not.

    The unincorporated territorial status of PR has resulted in a legacy of poverty, inequality, administrative corruption and stagnant economic growth impacting the quality of life of its residents. The problems PR has today, are the same problems it has confronted for 122 +years. The repetitive failures/ responsibilities are multifactorial and will remain part of the unfortunate PR federal and local administrative history.

    PR voters have unequivocally rejected independence and stated clearly their desire to remain proud American Citizens. The Unincorporated Territorial Status Quo supporters spend millions lobbying against Statehood, why? – Each one of their policy platforms is based on federal funds. Why do they spend money blocking permanent equality for the island residents when it is precisely that equality what guarantees greater representation for them? – The only logical explanation is financial and political avarice. The US citizens of PR deserve better, PR cannot continue on its current path.

    The real question then, is what will be the future legacy for the US citizens of PR?
    The answer is simple. The US Congress must honor the principles of our Constitution. Our democratic republic is dependent upon the active involvement of all its people, not just a few. The US congress must incorporate PR and grant its local US citizens permanent equality/ Statehood in order to continue its history of forming and striving for a more perfect union. The US congress must grant permanent equality/ Statehood to the US citizens of PR because without them, we are incomplete.

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