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S 865 117th Congress Senate Government Operations and Politics Advisory bodies Caribbean area Congressional oversight Elections, voting, political campaign regulation Government information and archives Government trust funds Legislative rules and procedure Political representation Puerto Rico Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status State and local government operations U.S. territories and protectorates

Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021

Introduced: March 18, 2021 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 18, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mar 18, 2021
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now March 18, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 865: Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-865/
MLA
"S. 865: Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-865/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 865, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-865/.
Markdown link
[S. 865: Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-865/)
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