Almost four years ago during the election of 2020, voters in Puerto Rico once again expressed their aspiration of becoming the 51st state in the union, approving a nonbinding referendum. Yet, time and time again, their requests to become a state have been shot down, ignored, and disregarded by the American political system. Our country was founded on the ideals of no taxation without representation, yet for some reason, we’ve forgotten this foundational statement regarding Puerto Rico.
A glaring imbalance is evident that U.S. territories remain excluded from the same benefits afforded to states. Puerto Ricans contribute equally as mainland citizens in payroll taxes fueling federal programs like Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. However, a concerning discrepancy emerges — while states receive uncapped funding for these crucial initiatives, territories like Puerto Rico are constrained by spending limits, painting a picture of unequal access within a nation that purports to stand for unity.
By making Puerto Rico a state, we are increasing the disability benefits offered to their citizens and Medicaid funding while increasing their federal minimum wage to the national minimum wage, which can help alleviate poverty in Puerto Rico. By making Puerto Rico a state, we improve the overall quality of life and give the residents of Puerto Rico additional opportunities.
Admitting Puerto Rico as a state would help a state that has traditionally been riddled with debt and poverty follow a trend of increased economic growth observed historically in territories admitted as states, most recently in Alaska and Hawaii. This would also substantially impact the ongoing efforts to achieve debt restructuring and fiscal stabilization for the island, which require economic growth. This means that making Puerto Rico a state would positively affect the national debt while significantly improving the economy. As PR51st outlines, “Businesses and individuals from the states would not be able to avoid income taxes through Puerto Rico. Multinational corporate entities and the wealthy would pay their fair share to support the government that helps make their incomes possible. This would mean billions of dollars a year for the U.S. treasury.”
Moreover, under the current territory status of Puerto Rico, more than 80,000 veterans who call Puerto Rico home are denied the primary benefits of joining the army. This means that even though they are expected to make the same sacrifices as all other military service members, they are denied equality when they return home. Under statehood, veterans in Puerto Rico would finally be honored and have the benefits they deserve.
From the hallowed echoes of 1776, a promise was etched into the very soul of our nation — a commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. Today, as we stand on the cusp of a new era, the time has come to honor that pledge, to breathe life into those words penned in the dawn of our history. The ideals that ignited our nation’s birth continue to burn brightly, beckoning us to uphold the torch of justice.
