[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 251 (Friday, December 29, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 82889-82890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33451]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 251 / Friday, December 29, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  


[[Page 82889]]

                Executive Order 13183 of December 23, 2000

                
Establishment of the President's Task Force on 
                Puerto Rico's Status

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, including Public Law 106-346, it is hereby 
                ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the executive 
                branch of the Government of the United States of 
                America to help answer the questions that the people of 
                Puerto Rico have asked for years regarding the options 
                for the islands' future status and the process for 
                realizing an option. Further, it is our policy to 
                consider and develop positions on proposals, without 
                preference among the options, for the Commonwealth's 
                future status; to discuss such proposals with 
                representatives of the people of Puerto Rico and the 
                Congress; to work with leaders of the Commonwealth and 
                the Congress to clarify the options to enable Puerto 
                Ricans to determine their preference among options for 
                the islands' future status that are not incompatible 
                with the Constitution and basic laws and policies of 
                the United States; and to implement such an option if 
                chosen by a majority, including helping Puerto Ricans 
                obtain a governing arrangement under which they would 
                vote for national government officials, if they choose 
                such a status.

                Sec. 2. The President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's 
                Status. There is established a task force to be known 
                as ``The President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's 
                Status'' (Task Force). It shall be composed of 
                designees of each member of the President's Cabinet and 
                the Co-Chairs of the President's Interagency Group on 
                Puerto Rico (Interagency Group). The Task Force shall 
                be co-chaired by the Attorney General's designee and a 
                Co-Chair of the Interagency Group.

                Sec. 3. Functions. The Task Force shall seek to 
                implement the policy set forth in section 1 of this 
                order. It shall ensure official attention to and 
                facilitate action on matters related to proposals for 
                Puerto Rico's status and the process by which an option 
                can be realized. It shall provide advice and 
                recommendations on such matters to the President and 
                the Congress. It shall also provide advice and 
                recommendations to assist the Executive Office of the 
                President in fulfilling its responsibilities under 
                Public Law 106-346 to transfer funding to the Elections 
                Commission of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for 
                public education on and a public choice among options 
                for Puerto Rico's future status that are not 
                incompatible with the Constitution and the basic laws 
                and policies of the United States.

                Sec. 4. Report. The Task Force shall report on its 
                actions to the President not later than May 1, 2001, 
                and thereafter as needed but not less than

[[Page 82890]]

                annually on progress made in the determination of 
                Puerto Rico's ultimate status.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                     December 23, 2000.

[FR Doc. 00-33451
Filed 12-28-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P