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[actionDate] => 2009-10-08
[displayText] => Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 111-294.
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[description] => Introduced
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Passed House
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[actionDate] => 2010-04-29
[displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 223 - 169, 1 Present (Roll no. 242).
[externalActionCode] => 8000
[description] => Passed House
[chamberOfAction] => House
)
PDF(PDF provides a complete and accurate display of this text.)Tip?
Shown Here: Referred in Senate (04/30/2010)
111th CONGRESS 2d Session
H. R. 2499
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
STATES
April 30, 2010
Received; read twice and referred to the
Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources
AN ACT
To provide for a federally sanctioned
self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1.Short title.
This Act may be cited as the
“Puerto Rico Democracy Act of
2010”.
SEC. 2.Federally Sanctioned Process for Puerto
Rico’s Self-Determination.
(a) First plebiscite.—The Government of Puerto Rico is authorized
to conduct a plebiscite in Puerto Rico. The 2 options set forth on the ballot
shall be preceded by the following
statement:“Instructions: Mark one of the
following 2 options:
“(1) Puerto Rico should continue to have its
present form of political status. If you agree, mark here __.
“(2) Puerto Rico should have a different
political status. If you agree, mark here
__.”.
(b) Procedure if majority in first plebiscite
favors option 1.—If a majority
of the ballots in the plebiscite are cast in favor of Option 1, the Government
of Puerto Rico is authorized to conduct additional plebiscites under subsection
(a) at intervals of every 8 years from the date that the results of the prior
plebiscite are certified under section 3(d).
(c) Procedure if majority in first plebiscite
favors option 2.—If a majority
of the ballots in a plebiscite conducted pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) are
cast in favor of Option 2, the Government of Puerto Rico is authorized to
conduct a plebiscite on the following 4 options:
(1) Independence: Puerto Rico should become
fully independent from the United States. If you agree, mark here __.
(2) Sovereignty in Association with the United
States: Puerto Rico and the United States should form a political association
between sovereign nations that will not be subject to the Territorial Clause of
the United States Constitution. If you agree, mark here __.
(3) Statehood: Puerto Rico should be admitted
as a State of the Union. If you agree, mark here __.
(4) Commonwealth: Puerto Rico should continue
to have its present form of political status. If you agree, mark here
___.
SEC. 3.Applicable Laws and Other
Requirements.
(a) Applicable laws.—All Federal laws applicable to the election
of the Resident Commissioner shall, as appropriate and consistent with this
Act, also apply to any plebiscites held pursuant to this Act. Any reference in
such Federal laws to elections shall be considered, as appropriate, to be a
reference to the plebiscites, unless it would frustrate the purposes of this
Act.
(b) Rules and regulations.—The Puerto Rico State Elections Commission
shall issue all rules and regulations necessary to carry out the plebiscites
under this Act.
(c) Eligibility To vote.—Each of the following shall be eligible to
vote in any plebiscite held under this Act:
(1) All eligible voters under the electoral
laws in effect in Puerto Rico at the time the plebiscite is held.
(2) All United States citizens born in Puerto
Rico who comply, to the satisfaction of the Puerto Rico State Elections
Commission, with all Commission requirements (other than the residency
requirement) applicable to eligibility to vote in a general election in Puerto
Rico. Persons eligible to vote under this subsection shall, upon timely request
submitted to the Commission in compliance with any terms imposed by the
Electoral Law of Puerto Rico, be entitled to receive an absentee ballot for the
plebiscite.
(d) Certification of plebiscite
results.—The Puerto Rico State
Elections Commission shall certify the results of any plebiscite held under
this Act to the President of the United States and to the Members of the Senate
and House of Representatives of the United States.
(e) English Language Requirements.—The Puerto Rico State Elections Commission
shall—
(1) ensure that all ballots used for any
plebiscite held under this Act include the full content of the ballot printed
in English;
(2) inform persons voting in any plebiscite
held under this Act that, if Puerto Rico retains its current political status
or is admitted as a State of the United States, the official language
requirements of the Federal Government shall apply to Puerto Rico in the same
manner and to the same extent as throughout the United States; and
(3) inform persons voting in any plebiscite
held under this Act that, if Puerto Rico retains its current political status
or is admitted as a State of the United States, it is the Sense of Congress
that it is in the best interest of the United States for the teaching of
English to be promoted in Puerto Rico as the language of opportunity and
empowerment in the United States in order to enable students in public schools
to achieve English language proficiency.
(f) Plebiscite costs.—All costs associated with any plebiscite
held under this Act (including the printing, distribution, transportation,
collection, and counting of all ballots) shall be paid for by the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico.
Passed the House of
Representatives April 29, 2010.