Florida lawmaker files historic bill to make Puerto Rico the country’s 51st state

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto has filed a bipartisan bill that would admit Puerto Rico into the union as the 51st state.

 "It's time to end 120 years of colonialism for Puerto Ricans," Soto, D-Orlando, says in a statement. "Today, along with Jenniffer González Colón, I'm proud to introduce the first direct Puerto Rico Statehood bill to admit the island as the 51st state of the union." 

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Soto made the announcement in Washington D.C. with Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, Democrat, and Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón, the Republican resident commissioner of Puerto Rico in the House. 

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This article appears in Mar 28 – Apr 4, 2019.