Jenniffer González Colón, Governor of Puerto Rico, signed on Friday, October 16, the Joint Resolution 66-2026, through which she formally requests President Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress to admit the island as the 51st state of the Union, on equal terms with the other states.
The signing took place in an official ceremony with the presence of legislators from the majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate of Puerto Rico, cabinet secretaries, and representatives from civil society.
"I signed Joint Resolution 66-2026, which formally requests the President and Congress of the United States to admit Puerto Rico as a State of the Union, on equal terms with the other states," the governor wrote on X.
González linked the measure to one of his electoral commitments: "With this signature, we fulfill the commitment of our Government Program to prioritize statehood and honor the will of our people expressed at the polls."
The governor also appealed to the historical contributions of Puerto Ricans to the United States to support her request.
“Puerto Ricans have contributed to the development of our Nation, we have defended its freedoms, and we have fulfilled the responsibilities of American citizenship. It is now the Congress's turn to respond to this will and exercise its constitutional authority to admit Puerto Rico as a state of the Union,” he affirmed.
What does the resolution establish?
The Joint Resolution 66-2026 was originally processed in the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico as Joint Resolution of the House 391 (R. C. de la C. 391). Both designations refer to the same legislative instrument at different stages of its approval.
Following its legislative approval and the governor's signature on October 16, 2026, the measure received its official final numbering as Joint Resolution 66-2026.
According to the official material released by González, the document "strongly establishes the formal request for the admission of Puerto Rico as a state of the Union as a public policy of the Government of Puerto Rico" and stipulates the use of government resources to promote this request before federal authorities.
The request is directed to President Donald Trump, the leaders of both chambers of the federal Congress, and other U.S. legislators.
What comes next for Puerto Rico?
The signing of the resolution formalizes the position of the Puerto Rican Government in favor of statehood, but does not automatically turn Puerto Rico into a state of the United States.
According to Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution, the power to admit new states belongs to the federal Congress.
For Puerto Rico to become the 51st state, Congress would need to process and approve admission legislation. In the ordinary legislative procedure, a bill must pass through the necessary stages in the House of Representatives and the Senate and receive presidential signature, unless it becomes law through another constitutional mechanism.
The initiative faces political obstacles, including the lack of consensus in Washington regarding Puerto Rico's admission as a state.
González has proposed to promote a new admission project in Congress after the U.S. legislative elections in November 2026.
The previous attempts to make Puerto Rico the 51st state
The new resolution adds to decades of initiatives and popular consultations regarding the political future of the island.
In November 2020, Puerto Rico voted in favor of becoming the 51st state of the United States, with 52.52% of the votes cast in that referendum. However, the result did not lead to a federal admission law.
In December 2022, the United States House of Representatives approved Bill H.R. 8393, known as the Puerto Rico Status Act, with 233 votes in favor. The proposal included a process to determine the island's future political status, but it did not become law because it was not approved by the Senate.
These precedents reflect a fundamental difference between the consultations and decisions made in Puerto Rico and the constitutional authority of the U.S. Congress to modify the territorial status.
A political debate that divides Puerto Rico
Statehood is one of the main proposals of the New Progressive Party (PNP), the political party of Governor Jenniffer González.
The debate about the future of Puerto Rico also includes other alternatives, such as independence and various formulas for political association with the United States.
The Popular Democratic Party (PPD) has historically defended the Commonwealth, while the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) promotes independence.
Among the main points of discussion are the political representation of Puerto Ricans in Washington, the economic and fiscal consequences of a potential admission, cultural identity, and the extent of the island's political autonomy.
Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory since 1898
Puerto Rico came under American sovereignty in 1898, when Spain ceded the island to the United States after the Spanish-American War.
In 1917, federal legislation recognized U.S. citizenship for Puerto Ricans. However, those who reside on the island cannot vote in the general presidential elections and lack voting representation in both chambers of Congress.
Puerto Rico has a resident commissioner in the U.S. House of Representatives, who can participate in certain legislative tasks but cannot vote on the final approval of laws in the full chamber.
The tax regime of the island also differs from that of the states. As a general rule, bona fide residents of Puerto Rico do not pay federal income tax on income earned from Puerto Rican sources, although there are exceptions and federal tax obligations depending on the origin of the income, the type of economic activity, and other circumstances.
Additionally, certain federal contributions related to programs such as Social Security and Medicare are applied.
The Joint Resolution 66-2026 maintains statehood as an official priority of the Government of Jenniffer González. Its eventual realization will depend on the U.S. Congress approving legislation that admits Puerto Rico as a new state of the Union.
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