In this bonus episode, we’re sharing a press conference from the House Committee on Natural Resources, which oversees insular affairs for the United States, including the affairs of Puerto Rico. What you'll hear in this press conference is a historic announcement from congressional members, who have supported two opposing bills that address Puerto Rico’s status. 

The press conference will tell you more, but to give you a high level view, US House lawmakers announced today that they have come to a compromise and are working on legislation that, if passed, would trigger a binding referendum on Puerto Rico’s political status. The proposal would require Puerto Ricans to choose from three options: independence, statehood, or sovereignty in free association with the US. What makes this different from past referendums is that it would be binding - meaning that it would require Congress to act on the referendum regardless of the outcome.