Florida House GOP Member Becomes 100th Sponsor of Puerto Rico Status Act

Rep. Corey Mills (R-Fla.) signed the Puerto Rico Status Act into law this week, The Hill has learned, becoming the bill’s 100th sponsor.

legislation would allow a federally sponsored plebiscite for Puerto Ricans to determine their political status, with the choice of independence, statehood, or sovereignty in free association with the United States. Related legislation in the Senate it has the support of 27 senators.

Mills’ addition to the law comes as the island territory is at the center of controversy during the height of the election season after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” at former President Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

Rep. Corey Mills (R-FL) speaks to reporters as he arrives in the House of Representatives for the final round of votes of the week on September 25, 2024.

But Mills’ office said his decision to join the bill was unrelated to the recent scandal and that he had been considering joining before the comedian’s comments.

“I am honored to support the Puerto Rico Status Act as the 100th cosponsor of HR 2757, which supports the right of U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico to participate in the process of self-determination,” Mills said in a statement to The Hill. “This legislation is a significant step forward by authorizing a federally sponsored plebiscite that gives Puerto Ricans a choice between independence, sovereignty in free association with the United States, or statehood.”

The version of the legislation in the last Congress had 63 co-sponsors and passed the House in 2022 but stalled in the Senate. Only 16 Republicans voted in favor bill this year.

Mills is the 15th House Republican who supported the 118th Congress’ version, although three of the GOP members supporting the bill are delegates rather than full voting representatives.

“I am committed to this bill and hope to support the choice of the people of Puerto Rico,” Mills said. “There is a strong historical connection between Puerto Rico and the United States. The bottom line is that Puerto Ricans serve in the U.S. military and deserve at least the opportunity to become a state.”

Puerto Ricans will hold non-binding referendum on the status of Puerto Rico on November 5 on statehood, independence or independence with free association.

A YouGov poll conducted On October 28, it was revealed that 59 percent of US adults support making Puerto Rico a US state if its residents vote to do so.

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