The United States House of Representatives has passed a bill to allow Puerto Rico to vote on a binding referendum on whether to become a state or gain independence – a largely symbolic measure unlikely to pass in the Senate.
The House passed the proposal, dubbed the Puerto Rico Status Act, in a 233-191 vote The proposal calls for a vote in November of next year to resolve Puerto Rico’s political status.
The measure would give Puerto Rican voters a chance to choose between independence, sovereignty in free association with the US or statehood.
The referendum would not include Puerto Rico’s current status as a US commonwealth.