COVID and economy woes walloped Puerto Rico -- but statehood may help bring it back
Puerto Rico — buffeted by natural disasters, a debt crisis and most recently, COVID-19 — is struggling under the weight of a hobbled economy that relies heavily on tourism.
However, the so-called “Island of Enchantment” may yet see better days, as the Biden administration, and a chance to become fully recognized as a U.S. state, could help restore a much-needed sense of normalcy after a rough stretch of years.
In the U.S. Congress, where Democrats currently hold a slim majority, key lawmakers are united in their desire to bolster Puerto Rico’s future — but exactly how that gets done is up for debate. One option currently being discussed with more intensity is a bid for statehood, an option that some have floated for Washington, D.C. as well.
Last year, an effort spearheaded by New York Democrats Nydia Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez culminated in a November referendum where Puerto Ricans voted to become a U.S. state, the latest in a years-long effort to clarify the island’s relationship with America.
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https://finance.yahoo.com/news/covid-and-economy-troubles-walloped-puerto-rico-but-statehood-could-bring-it-back-140744571.html
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