Resident Commissioner Pablo Jose Hernandez has introduced 223 bills in Congress this year, some of which relate specifically to helping Puerto Rico gain equality with the states. We’ve listed just a few below.
Bills introduced by Pablo José Hernández
- H.R. 6441 — Postal Address Recognition Act: updates postal system in Puerto Rico
- H.R. 6301 — Comprehensive Study of Gender-Based Violence in Puerto Rico
- H.R. 6031 — Medicare Advantage Integrity Act of 2025
- H.R. 6030 — Puerto Rico Substance Use and Health Data Collection Act
- H.R. 5168 — Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act
- H.R. 3814 — Puerto Rico BEACHES Act
- H.R. 3238 — HABLA Act of 2025
- H.R. 2775 — Coastal Drone Surveillance and Interdiction Assessment Act
- H.R. 2714 — Puerto Rico Energy Generation Crisis Task Force Act
- H.R. 2632 — TRICARE Equality Act
- H.R. 1697 — Child Tax Credit Relief for Puerto Rican Families Act
- H.R. 1696 — Puerto Rico Low-Income Housing Support Act
- H.R.6716 — SATOS Act: establishes a program to fund services for domestic animals in rural areas
- H.R.6494 — To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to make improvements to the treatment of the United States territories under the Medicare and Medicaid programs
- H.R.5656 — To amend title 49, United States Code, to grant the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico eligibility to issue commercial driver’s licenses
Many bills are introduced each year, and few become law. Most of the bills have few or no cosponsors and none has become law. Some of the most important for Puerto Rico focus on providing parity for the Island in federal benefits. They ask that Puerto Rico (and often the other territories as well) be given the same benefits for Social Security, food stamps, tax credits, veterans benefits, and more that states receive. The goal is simply equality for Puerto Rico.
Problems with this approach
Hernandez said while campaigning for his post that he would not focus on Puerto Rico’s political status. Many previous resident commissioners have worked hard to gain statehood for Puerto Rico, or to pursue the fantasy of “commonwealth.” Hernandez hoped to be able to improve the economic position of the Island without working toward status change, though he also speaks freely about his hopes to maintain and strengthen the “commonwealth,” ignoring the fact that “commonwealth” status is actually territory status.
There are two serious problem with this approach. The first is that piecemeal bills to provide parity for Puerto Rico in one case or another are very unlikely to add up to equality. If Hernandez were able to succeed with legislation to give Puerto Rico SSI benefits or equal nutrition assistance benefits, that would be a very good thing. But statehood would immediately provide both those things, as well as many more. By no means the least important point, statehood will give Puerto Rico two senators and multiple voting members of Congress, instead of a single non-voting member. Statehood will give Puerto Ricans full protection and equal rights under the U.S. Constitution, no matter where we live.
A patchwork collection of separate bills won’t add up to equality for Puerto Rico.
The other serious problem is that one Congress can’t bind a future Congress. That is, even if the current Congress were to give Puerto Rico the same power to issue commercial drivers licenses recognized in states, the next Congress can take it away again. Puerto Rico has seen several examples of Congress making changes of this kind. Puerto Rico should have equality with the states, but even if each individual inequity were addressed ins a separate law, each one cold be changed again in the future.
The solution
Statehood provides equal rights for Puerto Rico. Each new state is, by order of the U.S. Constitution, admitted on an equal footing with all the existing states. Everything that is provided for the current states will be provided for the state of Puerto Rico. States, unlike territories, have sovereignty and rights of their own. Puerto Rico needs and deserves this. Tell your representatives that this matters to you. If it matters to the people who vote for your legislators, it will also matter to them.
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