What is Puerto Rico's political destiny. The island's over 3 million U.S. citizens continue to debate whether to retain the current Commonwealth arrangement or petition the Congress for statehood, independence, or an amended form of the present status. Any decision rests with the Puerto Rican people and the U.S. Government and holds significant repercussions, because the longstanding Puerto Rico-Federal relationship has fostered a web of legal, fiscal, and human ties. Consequently, deciding what the island's status should be and planning for any change will involve assessing an intricate array of concerns. Compounding ideological and political divisions, the status debate also presents numerous financial and other considerations and encompasses added dimensions, such as cultural convictions and international issues. To enhance evolving deliberations over alternative future statuses, this report analyzes the U.S.-Puerto Rico relationship and highlights the broad range of issues likely to be addressed by island residents as well as Puerto Rico and Federal decisionmakers.
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