Bill Overview
Title: Puerto Rico Status Act
Description: This bill provides for a plebiscite to be held on November 5, 2023, to resolve Puerto Rico's political status. Specifically, such plebiscite shall offer eligible voters a choice of independence, sovereignty in free association with the United States, or statehood. The Puerto Rico State Elections Commission shall carry out a nonpartisan voter education campaign through traditional paid media and make available at all voting locations voter education materials related to the plebiscites, and invite national and international election observers to ensure transparency and confidence in the electoral process. All voter educational materials and ballots used to carry out this bill shall be made available in English and Spanish. The bill sets forth transition and implementation provisions for each choice offered in the plebiscite.
Sponsors: Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-3]
Target Audience
Population: Residents of Puerto Rico
Estimated Size: 3200000
- The bill directly addresses Puerto Rico's political status, impacting the residents of Puerto Rico.
- Puerto Rico has a population of approximately 3.2 million people, all of whom would be impacted by this decision.
- Eligible voters in Puerto Rico are the immediate target population since they are the ones voting in the plebiscite.
- The decision made from this plebiscite could alter the citizenship rights, economic status, and political representation of Puerto Ricans.
- If statehood is chosen, all Puerto Ricans might become U.S. citizens with full voting rights in federal elections.
Reasoning
- The Puerto Rico Status Act primarily affects Puerto Rican residents due to its goal of resolving political status for the territory.
- Mainland Americans are mostly indirectly affected, primarily through economic or cultural connections, or through policy-induced changes to federal economic obligations or political representation.
- Non-puerto Rican individuals might have minimal understanding or opinion on the policy due to geographic and cultural distance.
Simulated Interviews
Software Developer (Orlando, FL)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this plebiscite gives Puerto Ricans the chance to make a decision about their future.
- My family would benefit from having a settled status in the U.S.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Teacher (San Juan, PR)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The plebiscite is a necessary step despite its imperfect history.
- I hope for a resolution that offers stability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired (New York, NY)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Statehood could offer better economic stability for Puerto Ricans.
- Decades of unresolved status have been frustrating.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Real Estate Agent (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't think this affects my business unless there is significant economic change.
- I hope it leads to Puerto Rico's prosperity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Artist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am curious about how the political status might change U.S. territories' dynamics.
- This is more of an academic interest for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Nurse (Houston, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about healthcare outcomes for Puerto Ricans under different statuses.
- I hope the plebiscite leads to improvements in healthcare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this event will be significant in political history studies.
- This is a fascinating case of territorial self-determination.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Tech Startup Founder (San Diego, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This plebiscite might play into broader Hispanic economic integration.
- New political status might offer market opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired Military (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 74 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope Puerto Rico's military families gain clarity from this status change.
- Puerto Rican veterans deserve stable representation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The plebiscite could redefine economic responsibilities for the U.S.
- My work involves assessing such policy impacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring a fair and transparent plebiscite is crucial for the legitimacy of any decision made.
- Cultural sensitivities should be managed, particularly in language and educational materials.
- Political implications are significant depending on the outcome, influencing U.S.-Puerto Rico relations.