109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4963
To recognize the right of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to call
a constitutional convention through which the people of Puerto Rico would
exercise their right to self-determination, and to establish a mechanism
for congressional consideration of such decision.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 15, 2006
Mr. DUNCAN (for himself, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. WICKER, Mr. PICKERING,
Mr. BONNER, Mr. GUTKNECHT, Mr. BACHUS, Ms. VELAZQUEZ, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA,
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. HONDA, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. OBERSTAR,
Ms. SOLIS, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, and Mr. UDALL of New Mexico) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources
A BILL
To recognize the right of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to call
a constitutional convention through which the people of Puerto Rico would
exercise their right to self-determination, and to establish a mechanism
for congressional consideration of such decision.
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 Self-Determination Act of 2006'.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
(1) COMMONWEALTH- The term `Commonwealth' means the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico.
(2) 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.
(3) SELF-DETERMINATION PROPOSAL- The term `self-determination proposal'
means a document submitted to Congress by a constitutional convention
in the Commonwealth that proposes a self-determination option.
SEC. 3. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
(a) Authority- Congress reaffirms the inherent authority of the government
of the Commonwealth to call, and hereby expressly authorizes the calling
of, a constitutional convention through the election of delegates for the
purpose of establishing a mechanism for self-determination.
(b) Purpose of Constitutional Convention- The purpose of a constitutional
convention called under subsection (a) is to propose to Congress--
(1) a new or amended compact of association to replace or amend the compact
established under the Act entitled `An Act to provide for the organization
of a constitutional government by the people of Puerto Rico', approved
July 3, 1950 (64 Stat. 319) (commonly referred to as `Public Law 600')
and the Commonwealth constitution;
(2) the admission of the Commonwealth as a State in the United States;
or
(3) the declaration of the Commonwealth as an independent country.
SEC. 4. SELF-DETERMINATION PROPOSAL.
(a) Submission to Congress of Self-Determination Proposal- Upon the approval
by a constitutional convention in the Commonwealth of a self-determination
option, the constitutional convention shall submit a self-determination
proposal to Congress for approval.
(b) Disposition of Self-Determination Proposal-
(1) REFERENDUM- If a self-determination proposal is approved by Congress
with or without modifications, the proposal shall be submitted to the
people of the Commonwealth for approval or rejection in a referendum.
(2) ENACTMENT OF PROPOSAL- If the people of the Commonwealth approve the
self-determination proposal in a referendum held pursuant to paragraph
(1), a joint resolution of Congress shall be enacted approving the terms
of the proposal and including provisions necessary to implement the proposal.
(3) REJECTION OF PROPOSAL- If a self-determination proposal is not approved
by Congress pursuant to subsection (a) or is not approved by the people
of the Commonwealth in a referendum held pursuant to paragraph (1), the
Government of the Commonwealth should call for a new constitutional convention,
including an election by the people of the Commonwealth of new delegates
to the convention, for the purpose of formulating and submitting to Congress
a new self-determination proposal.
SEC. 5. CONVENTION IN CONTINUOUS SESSION.
A constitutional convention held pursuant to this Act may remain in session
until a self-determination proposal is approved in a referendum by the people
of the Commonwealth and enacted by a joint resolution of Congress.
END
