[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2499 Engrossed in House (EH)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2499
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
Attest:
Clerk.
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2499
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for
the people of Puerto Rico.