PIP leader slams Florida congressman’s PR status vote proposal
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) Sen. María de Lourdes Santiago Negrón sharply criticized U.S. Rep. Darren Soto’s (D-Fla.) plan to promote a status vote that would include the island’s current territorial arrangement as an option, calling it “a dangerous step backwards” for those committed to decolonization.
“Puerto Ricans already rejected the colonial commonwealth in 2012,” Santiago said Monday. “It is alarming that, at a time when colonial rule is reinforced by the dictatorial presence of the Financial Oversight and Management Board, military occupation, and tax privileges for foreigners, Soto’s response resembles a new version of Law 600,” referring to the 1950s statute that authorized Puerto Rico to draft its Constitution.
Soto, who represents Florida’s 9th District (eastern Orlando extending south-southeast and including Kissimmee and St. Cloud), is considering legislation similar to House Resolution (HR) 8393 from 2022 but with a key change: adding the commonwealth status as an option. Critics argue that the inclusion undermines the original intent of ending Puerto Rico’s colonial condition.
Soto says that recognizing territorial status reflects the island’s current representation in Congress through Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera, president of the pro-commonwealth Popular Democratic Party and a staunch defender of the existing arrangement.
“The United States has a historical, political, and moral obligation to promote decolonization,” Santiago said. “Soto’s proposal continues to evade that responsibility.”
Independence advocates reiterated their call for a status assembly that would compel Washington to clarify the viability of genuine decolonizing alternatives for Puerto Rico. They condemned any effort to “consolidate colonialism disguised as the triply deceptive formula that is the current status of subordination to the United States: a commonwealth that is neither a state, nor grants freedom, nor constitutes an association.”
Last week Soto and Hernández Rivera introduced HR 6479, the Puerto Rico Affordable Care Act, or PRACA, a bill aimed at creating an Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange -- commonly known as an Obamacare exchange -- in Puerto Rico. The legislation seeks to ensure the island receives the same healthcare treatment as the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
“For far too long, Puerto Ricans have been treated as second-class citizens -- despite being part of the United States,” Soto said. “I’m proud to partner with Resident Commissioner Hernández on this initiative to allow those on the island to receive equal treatment when it comes to healthcare access. Our hope is that this bill will open the door to key reforms and lead to a system in which Puerto Ricans have access to tiered plans, tax premiums, and cost-sharing reductions.”
The resident commissioner emphasized the impact on affordability and coverage.
“Too many families in Puerto Rico navigate a system without the cost-saving tools available elsewhere,” Hernández Rivera said. “Establishing an ACA exchange gives the island the federal support to expand coverage, lower costs, and strengthen our healthcare network. This bill brings Puerto Rico into the proven framework that serves millions of Americans.”
Currently, Puerto Rico’s healthcare exchange does not meet ACA standards and lacks tiered plans such as Bronze, Silver, and Gold, as well as tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. The proposed legislation would expand access to affordable coverage, particularly benefiting small business owners, employees, and young adults. With roughly 43% of Puerto Ricans living below the poverty line -- the highest rate in the United States -- lawmakers argue that congressional action is critical to ensure parity in healthcare access.