The governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, left Wednesday for the United States to participate in meetings and visits, among them, to speak before the U.S. Senate about holding a plebiscite on the island’s political status.
According to La Fortaleza, the seat of the Puerto Rican Executive Branch, Pierluisi will be in Washington, D.C. on Thursday to speak at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s public hearing on the status of the U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, among other issues.
In said hearing, according to a press release issued by La Fortaleza on Wednesday, Pierluisi will advocate for the approval of Senate Bill 8393, which stipulates a plebiscite on the island to decide between “statehood” or annexation to the U.S., independence or free association.
The federal House of Representatives approved last December, with 233 votes in favor and 191 against, said status bill, which authorizes the holding of a binding referendum on the island in November 2023 to define its political future.
Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since 1898 and is considered a Commonwealth, with its own Constitution and a significant degree of autonomy, although the U.S. reserves sections such as defense, currency, immigration and customs, among others.
Later, in the same federal capital, Pierluisi will participate in the Winter Convention of the National Governors Association, which will discuss issues related to energy policies, disaster response and economic development, among other topics, the press release added.
La Fortaleza also reported that Pierluisi will travel to New York, but did not specify his purpose.
State Department Secretary Omar Marrero will act as acting governor until Pierluisi’s return to the island next Sunday.
La Fortaleza, on the other hand, will broadcast on its Facebook page a message from Pierluisi titled “Present and Future,” in which he will highlight “the achievements of his first two years of administration and his vision to continue creating the Puerto Rico” that we all want.
“I am addressing you to share my achievements and my focus to continue creating the Puerto Rico that we all want,” Pierluisi said on his Twitter account.