[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 124 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S10527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 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

  Mr. TORRICELLI (for himself, Mr. D'Amato,  Mr.  Murkowski, Mr. Craig, 
 Mr. Akaka, Mr. Lautenberg,  Mr. Graham,  Mr. Daschle, 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:

                              S. Res. 279

       Whereas nearly 4,000,000 United States citizens live in the 
     island of Puerto Rico;
       Whereas 1998 marks the centenary of the acquisition of the 
     island 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.

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