A voter registration booth stands during an event to help Puerto Rico hurricane victims in Elizabeth, N.J., on April 14, 2018. (Julio Cortez/AP)House lawmakers will unveil legislation Thursday to make Puerto Rico the 51st state in the nation, pushing to give the island equal voting and economic rights in the U.S. government amid an escalating feud between President Trump and Puerto Rico officials over hurricane relief aid. In Puerto Rico, statehood supporters have for decades fought with those who believe the island should push for greater independence from the United States. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott of Florida, home to thousands of Puerto Rico expats, have previously expressed support for statehood if that is what Puerto Rico chooses. Over the weekend, Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke called for admitting Puerto Rico as the 51st U.S. state.

Source: Washington Post March 28, 2019 12:45 UTC