Reaffirming the consent of the governed as the United States marks 250 years of independence.

Sponsor: Stacey E. Plaskett (Democratic-VI)July 2, 2026

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

House to support fair treatment and self-rule for 3.6 million in U.S. territories.

The House would support democracy and fair treatment for over 3.6 million people in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam. This resolution would confirm that basic American principles of equality and self-rule apply to them. It would also reject past legal decisions that denied their full rights.

What Would Change

Today, over 3.6 million people in U.S. territories cannot fully take part in their government or federal elections. They are also denied federal programs, even though they pay over $5 billion in federal taxes each year. If this resolution passes, the House of Representatives would formally state its support for their democratic rights. It would also reject the old legal ideas that caused these unfair situations.

Key Provisions

Supports democracy, fair treatment, and the right to self-determination for all people living in United States territories and commonwealths.
Reaffirms that the nation's founding principles of equality and "consent of the governed" apply fully to all people in United States territories.
Rejects the racist reasoning of the Insular Cases as inconsistent with the Constitution and American values.
Embraces Justice John Marshall Harlan's conclusion that holding territories as mere colonies with limited rights is inconsistent with the Constitution.

View on Congress.gov

HRES 1416 · 119th Congress · July 2, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 10/10

Reaffirming the consent of the governed as the United States marks 250 years of independence.

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity