{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-colleagues-introduce-the-puerto-rico-status-act", "Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Introduce the Puerto Rico Status Act", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", "chrismurphy", "https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2013At a press conference today in Washington, DC, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and joined U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi and several colleagues to introduce the Puerto Rico Status Act, legislation that lays out a process for the people of Puerto Rico to determine the future of the island\u2019s political status.\n\n\u201cPuerto Rico\u2019s political status is a decision for the people of Puerto Rico. Too often, the Puerto Rican community in Connecticut has watched the federal government fall short of supporting their friends and family on the Island when faced with devastating natural disasters and economic crises. This bill is a commonsense compromise that would ensure Puerto Ricans are no longer relegated to second-class citizenship and are granted the long overdue right to self-determination,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThis important legislation empowers the people of Puerto Rico to decide what future they want for themselves \u2013 bringing together a wide variety of stakeholders on one path forward,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201cWhether the people of Puerto Rico choose statehood, independence, or sovereignty, they deserve the full benefits of citizenship.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is co-led by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). U.S. Representatives Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-N.Y.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonz\u00e1lez Col\u00f3n (R-P.R.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nThe Puerto Rico Status Act authorizes a federally sponsored plebiscite to resolve Puerto Rico\u2019s political status. The legislation details the transition to and implementation of a non-territory status for Puerto Rico \u2013 Statehood, Independence, or Sovereignty in Free Association with the United States \u2013 that is chosen by a majority of voters in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Status Act was drafted with extensive input from members of Congress; local elected government officials; citizenship, immigration, and constitutional law experts; and hundreds of residents of Puerto Rico.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-blumenthal-colleagues-introduce-the-puerto-rico-status-act"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5915939584374428, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}