[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 279 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 279

 Expressing the sense of the Senate supporting the right of the United 
States citizens in Puerto Rico to express their desires regarding their 
                        future political status.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 17, 1998

Mr. Torricelli (for himself, Mr. D'Amato, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. Craig, Mr. 
   Graham, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Lautenberg, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
 Lieberman, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. 
 Harkin) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Senate supporting the right of the United 
States citizens in Puerto Rico to express their desires regarding their 
                        future political status.

Whereas nearly 4,000,000 United States citizens live in the islands of Puerto 
        Rico;
Whereas 1998 marks the centenary of the acquisition of the islands of Puerto 
        Rico from Spain;
Whereas in 1917 the United States granted United States citizenship to the 
        inhabitants of Puerto Rico;
Whereas since 1952, Puerto Rico has exercised local self-government under the 
        sovereignty of the United States and subject to the provisions of the 
        Constitution of the United States and other Federal laws applicable to 
        Puerto Rico;
Whereas the Senate supports and recognizes the right of United States citizens 
        residing in Puerto Rico to express their views regarding their future 
        political status; and
Whereas the political status of Puerto Rico can be determined only by the 
        Congress of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING A REFERENDUM ON THE FUTURE 
              POLITICAL STATUS OF PUERTO RICO.

    It is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the Senate supports and recognizes the right of United 
        States citizens residing in Puerto Rico to express 
        democratically their views regarding their future political 
        status through a referendum or other public forum, and to 
        communicate those views to the President and Congress; and
            (2) the Federal Government should review any such 
        communication.
                                 <all>