110 HR 1230 IH: Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of U.S. House of Representatives 2007-02-28 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2007.

2.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Act: (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. 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. (3)

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). (4)

People of puerto rico

The term People of Puerto Rico means residents in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and non-resident Puerto Ricans. (5)

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. (6)

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.

3.

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.

4.

Self-determination option and proposal

(a)

Consideration of self-determination proposal

(1)

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. (2)

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.

5.

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.