I
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1230
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 28, 2007
Ms. Velázquez (for herself, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Oberstar, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Costello, Mr. Sires, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Honda, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Fattah, Mr. Meeks of New York, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Faleomavaega, and Ms. Solis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To recognize the right of the People of Puerto Rico to call a Constitutional Convention through which the people would exercise their natural right to self-determination, and to establish a mechanism for congressional consideration of such decision.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of
2007
.
Definitions
For the purposes of this Act:
Commonwealth
The term Commonwealth means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Self-determination option
The term Self-Determination Option means an option agreed to by a Constitutional Convention in the Commonwealth for a new or modified Commonwealth status, Statehood, or Independence. A Self-Determination Option must be based on the sovereignty of the People of Puerto Rico and not subject to the plenary powers of the territorial clause of the Constitution of the United States.
Self-determination proposal
The term Self-Determination Proposal means a Self Determination Option approved by the People of Puerto Rico in a referendum held pursuant to section 4(b).
People of puerto rico
The term People of Puerto Rico means residents in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and non-resident Puerto Ricans.
Non-resident puerto ricans
The term non-resident Puerto Ricans refers to individuals who are not legal residents of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and who are either born in Puerto Rico or have one parent born in Puerto Rico.
Constitutional convention
The term Constitutional Convention means a Convention of delegates elected by the People of Puerto Rico and convened pursuant to legislation approved by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Constitutional convention
Congress recognizes the inherent authority of the People of Puerto Rico to call a Constitutional Convention, constituted by a number of delegates to be determined in accordance to legislation approved by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, for the purpose of proposing to the People of Puerto Rico a Self-Determination Option, which if approved by the People of Puerto Rico in a referendum would be presented to Congress by the Constitutional Convention as a Self-Determination Proposal.
Self-determination option and proposal
Consideration of self-determination proposal
Approval of proposal
If the People of Puerto Rico approve the Self-Determination Proposal in a referendum, a joint resolution of Congress shall be enacted approving the terms of the Self-Determination Proposal, including provisions necessary to implement the Self-Determination Proposal. If Congress approves the Self-Determination Proposal with any changes or amendments, it shall be submitted in a referendum vote to the People of Puerto Rico for approval before it shall be effective.
Rejection of proposal
If a Self-Determination Proposal is rejected by Congress or is rejected by the People of Puerto Rico in a referendum held pursuant to paragraph (1), the Constitutional Convention may reconvene for the purpose of deliberating to adopt another Self-Determination Option to propose to the People of Puerto Rico and Congress.
Convention in continuous session
A Constitutional Convention held pursuant to this Act may remain in session until a Self-Determination Proposal is enacted by Federal law.