Para exigir al Presidente y al Congreso de los Estados Unidos de América la cancelación inmediata de todo ejercicio de práctica por parte de las fuerzas armadas de los Estados Unidos en nuestro territorio y aguas cercanas a nuestra jurisdicción; así como cualquier plan de remilitarización o reapertura de bases militares en Puerto Rico; reclamar que se finalice con la limpieza y descontaminación de los terrenos contaminados por los ejercicios de guerra; y comenzar un proceso de descolonización en el cual el Pueblo de Puerto Rico pueda escoger entre las alternativas no coloniales y no territoriales

2025-2028 Session

Demands U.S. halt military exercises in Puerto Rico, fund environmental cleanup, and enable decolonization referendum on political status alternatives.

Referido a Comisión(es)

Legislative bill overview

Bill RKC 29 calls on the U.S. President and Congress to immediately halt all U.S. armed forces military exercises on Puerto Rican territory and waters, prevent any remilitarization or reopening of military bases, and complete environmental remediation of contaminated lands from past military operations. The bill also demands initiation of a decolonization process allowing Puerto Rican voters to choose non-colonial and non-territorial political status alternatives.

Why is this important

Puerto Rico has hosted U.S. military installations and training exercises for over a century, leaving documented environmental contamination and raising sovereignty questions. This bill addresses longstanding local concerns about environmental health, territorial autonomy, and Puerto Rico's political future—issues that affect public health, land use, and the island's self-determination aspirations. The decolonization demand directly challenges Puerto Rico's current political status as a U.S. territory.

Potential points of contention

U.S. military strategic interests: The U.S. Defense Department views Puerto Rico as strategically vital for Caribbean operations; reducing or eliminating military presence faces significant federal resistance

Environmental remediation costs and liability: Determining responsibility and funding for cleanup of decades of military contamination (including ordnance residue from Vieques bombing range) remains contentious

Political status complexity: A decolonization referendum conflicts with existing U.S. constitutional frameworks; the bill doesn't specify enforcement mechanisms or timeline for U.S. compliance

Economic dependency concerns: Some argue military presence provides jobs and infrastructure investment, though others dispute net economic benefit