Puerto Rico Democracy Act
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Puerto Rico Democracy Act is a proposed United States federal statute that would provide for referendums to be held in Puerto Rico to determine the island's ultimate political status. It has been introduced twice in the United States Congress, first in 2007 and again in 2009.
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[edit] Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007
The 2007 bill, (H.R. 900) was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on February 7, 2007 by José Serrano (D-New York). The bill would have provided for a referendum to be held no later than December 31, 2009. The referendum would have given Puerto Ricans the choice between the options of retaining their present political status, or choosing a new status. If the former option were to win, the referendum would have been held again every 8 years. If the latter option were to win, a separate referendum would have been held no later than December 31, 2011. In this referendum, Puerto Ricans would have been given the option of being admitted as a US State "on equal footing with the other states," or becoming a "sovereign nation, either fully independent from or in free association with the United States." Were Puerto Ricans to choose statehood, independence, or free association, US Congress would have had 6 months to act on the desire of the Puerto Rican people.
The act had bi-partisan support in the House of Representatives, with 129 co-sponsors,[1] and was introduced in the U.S. Senate as S 1936 with bi-partisan support on August 2, 2007 by Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) with 15 co-sponsors.[2] The bill was never voted on before the 110th Congress ended.
[edit] Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009
The 2009 bill (H.R. 2499), was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on May 19, 2009 by Pedro Pierluisi (D-Puerto Rico).[3] The bill would provide for a referendum giving Puerto Ricans the choice between the options of retaining their present political status, or choosing a new status.[4] If the former option were to win, the referendum would have been held again every 8 years. If the latter option were to win, a separate referendum would be held where Puerto Ricans would have been given the option of being admitted as a US State "on equal footing with the other states," or becoming a "sovereign nation, either fully independent from or in free association with the United States." The act enjoys bi-partisan support in the House of Representatives, with 150 co-sponsors.[5]
[edit] Hearing
On June 24, 2009, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on the bill with the participation of the Governor of Puerto Rico, and others like Jennifer Gonzalez, speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, Thomas Rivera Schatz, president of the Senate of Puerto Rico.[6]
[edit] Committee Assignments
- Referred to the United States House Committee on Natural Resources.
[edit] References
- ^ "H.R.900". Library of Congress. October 23, 2007. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:H.R.900:. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
- ^ S. 1936: Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007 (GovTrack.us)
- ^ 111th Congress (2009) (May 19, 2009). "H.R. 2499". Legislation. GovTrack.us. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2499&tab=related. Retrieved on May 21, 2009. "Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009"
- ^ HR 2499 Puerto Rico Democracy Act Website
- ^ HR 2499 Cosponsors
- ^ Resources Committee Schedule on HR 2499
