Congresswomen Nydia Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Robert Menendez on Thursday introduced legislation that would allow Puerto Rico to decide its future status within the United States, potentially paving the way for sovereignty or full-statehood for the island's more than three million inhabitants.

Originally introduced on August 25, 2020, the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act would prompt Puerto Rico's legislature to make a Status Convention whose delegates would be elected by Puerto Rican voters.

These elected delegates, in turn, would work to develop a solution for the island's status, which could include statehood, sovereignty or free association.

On Thursday, Congresswoman Velázquez - a Puerto Rico-born Democrat who represents a district in New York City - said that the bill is ultimately aimed at ending US "colonial rule" of the island, which dates back to the Spanish-American War in 1898.

"Now, Congress must take responsibility and enter into a serious dialogue with the Puerto Rican people about the flawed territorial arrangement that currently stands," she said. "This legislation guarantees the inherent right of the people of Puerto Rico to determine their own political future."

Velázquez added that she believes the federal government - particularly during the Trump administration - has repeatedly failed the people of Puerto Rico.

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"We have seen the financial crisis, the earthquake (in January 2020) and the inability of Puerto Rico to deal with that," she said.

Senator Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Senator and the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that the Puerto Rican people have for decades been impacted by the current territorial arrangement.

"The more than 3 million residents of Puerto Rico, who are US citizens, have been repeatedly denied the ability to govern themselves and are too often treated as second-class citizens by the federal government," he said.  

On Thursday, Congresswoman Velázquez - a Puerto Rico-born Democrat who represents a district in New York City - said that the bill is ultimately aimed at ending US "colonial rule" of the island, which dates back to the Spanish-American War in 1898.

"Under our bill, options will be put before the people of Puerto Rico to vote in a federally recognized process for the first time," he said. "Whatever that future is, they'll be able to determine their security, their economy and who they have relationships with."

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for her part, said that move is also "about the identity of the United States."

"If we want to consider ourselves a democracy, it is fundamentally incompatible for a Democracy to have subjects," she said. "That is why the status quo is incompatible with Democracy."

The bill has more than 70 co-sponsors, a number that Congresswoman Velázquez said she expects to rise in the coming weeks.

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Puerto Ricans and Democrats split on the issue. Supporters of full statehood - including Governor Pedro Pierluisi and several Puerto Rican members of congress - have expressed a sense of urgency to accomplish it at a time in which the Democrats control both the House and Senate.

In a referendum administered during the November 3 election, more than half - 52.52% - of Puerto Ricans expressed their support for full statehood.

Earlier in March, however, more than 80 organizations in Puerto Rico and representing the Puerto Rican diaspora in the United States, signed a letter in which they noted that only 54.72% of registered voters participated in the referendum, rendering the results "non-decisive."  

The bill has more than 70 co-sponsors, a number that Congresswoman Velázquez said she expects to rise in the coming weeks.

"The referendum - a yes or no vote on statehood - was not binding, did not include a transition plan or an educational campaign on the consequences of the vote, and was not inclusive of other political status options," the letter said. "This is not a substitute for the deliberate process envisioned by the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act."

The letter added that "this is the time to usher in a new relationship between the United States and the people of Puerto Rico."

"The colonization of Puerto Rico is a shameful part of this country's history. We have an opportunity to rectify this reality and we hope to work closely with you to this end."

Senior Republicans in the United States have expressed concern that Puerto Rican statehood - which would mean two additional senators - would swing towards the Democrats. "We'd never get the Senate back again," Arizona Senator Martha McSally said in August.

Similarly, former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell voiced in September cited the prospect of Puerto Rican statehood as an example of an extreme Democrat agenda, along with higher taxes and more regulations.

The bill introduced on Thursday has a number of Republican co-sponsors, including Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker.