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H.R. 2070: Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021

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H.R. 2070: Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-03-18 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Committee Hearings Held.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-03-18 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Committee Hearings Held. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021

Plain summary

Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021 This bill establishes a process for the people of Puerto Rico to vote on the political status (e.g., statehood) of the territory. Congress may ratify the decision through a joint resolution. The bill declares that the legislature of Puerto Rico has the authority to call a status convention regarding the political status of the territory. The bill provides for public financing of delegate elections to the status convention and establishes a Congressional Bilateral Negotiating Commission to provide advice and consultation to delegates of the status convention. The status convention must provide self-determination options for a referendum of the people of Puerto Rico. Ranked-choice voting is a permitted format for the referendum. Delegates shall carry out an educational campaign through traditional paid media related to the referendum. The bill provides for congressional consideration of a joint resolution to ratify the self-determination option selected through the referendum.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] · 76 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Al Green (D-TX), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA) and 16 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] reported raising $180,257 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (4)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Joint resolution
In Texas, the type of measure the Legislature uses to propose a constitutional amendment (marked HJR or SJR). The governor does not sign or veto it; the voters decide. In Congress a joint resolution can also be used like a bill. In Florida, a joint resolution passed by three-fifths of the members of each chamber puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
Legislature
The elected body that makes laws. In Texas it has a House of Representatives (150 members) and a Senate (31 members). In Florida it has a House of Representatives (120 members) and a Senate (40 members).
Referendum
A vote by the public on a law or measure. Texas statewide propositions are how voters decide on constitutional amendments.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr2070 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117