[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3999 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3999

 To clarify the process for the adoption of local constitutional self-
government for the United States Virgin Islands and Guam, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 16, 2000

      Mr. Young of Alaska (for himself, Mrs. Christensen, and Mr. 
Faleomavaega) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To clarify the process for the adoption of local constitutional self-
government for the United States Virgin Islands and Guam, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Virgin Islands and Guam 
Constitutional Self-Government Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Congress established a process in 1976 for the United 
        States territories of the Virgin Islands and Guam to advance 
        local self-government by the adoption of constitutions through 
        their respective internal political processes, pursuant to 
        Public Law 94-584 (90 Stat. 2899), but did not require review 
        and approval of those constitutions by Congress.
            (2) The Virgin Islands and Guam have not adopted 
        constitutions as authorized and therefore, Congress has enacted 
        amendments to the underlying Federal laws establishing local 
        territorial government, the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin 
        Islands, approved by Congress on July 22, 1954 (68 Stat. 497), 
        and the Organic Act of Guam, approved by Congress on August 1, 
        1950 (64 Stat. 384), respectively, in response to periodic 
        petitions from the Virgin Islands and Guam for various changes 
        to the three branches of government of those territories.
            (3) Congress has been requested to amend the existing 
        Federal authorization for constitutional government (Public Law 
        94-584; 90 Stat. 2899), to assure the people of the Virgin 
        Islands and Guam that adoption of a constitution would not 
        preclude their further right to self-determination.
            (4) Review and approval by Congress of any proposed 
        constitution would ensure that the constitution--
                    (A) is consistent with the sovereignty of the 
                United States in the Virgin Islands and Guam, 
                respectively, and the provisions of the United States 
                Constitution, treaties and laws applicable to the 
                Virgin Islands and Guam, respectively;
                    (B) provides for a republican form of government, 
                consisting of three branches (executive, legislative, 
                and judicial);
                    (C) contains a bill of rights; and
                    (D) provides for the establishment of municipal or 
                county government as deemed appropriate to promote 
                greater self-determination and self-government for the 
                demographically distinct communities of the Virgin 
                Islands and Guam.

SEC. 3. CLARIFYING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Congressional Approval of Constitution.--Section 5 of Public 
Law 94-584 (90 Stat. 2900) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The constitution, in each case'' and all 
        that follows through ``unless prior to that date'' and 
        inserting ``After''; and
            (2) by striking ``resolution. As so approved or modified'' 
        and inserting ``resolution''.
    (b) Self-Determination Not Affected.--Public Law 94-584 (90 Stat. 
2899 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:
    ``Sec. 6. Establishment of local constitutional self-government 
pursuant to this Act shall not preclude or prejudice the further 
exercise in the future by the people of Guam or the Virgin Islands of 
the right of self-determination regarding the ultimate political status 
of either such territory.''.
                                 <all>