[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 51 (Monday, December 21, 1998)]
[Page 2492]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Puerto Rico Status Referendum

December 14, 1998

    I have advocated enabling the people of Puerto Rico to determine 
their future status among all the options--continuing the current 
governing arrangement, known as Commonwealth; nationhood, either 
independent from or in an association with the U.S.; and statehood. This 
year the House passed a bipartisan bill for this purpose, with my 
support, but the Senate majority leadership blocked it. In the end, the 
leadership simply recognized Puerto Ricans' right to choose and promised 
to review the results.
    Yesterday Puerto Ricans voted on these issues under local law. A 
majority of the vote was not for any of the options. Among the rest, the 
overwhelming majority supported statehood.
    I will, therefore, work with Members of Congress and the people of 
Puerto Rico and their leaders to enable Puerto Ricans to clarify their 
choice among the options. I remain committed to implementing a majority 
choice for Puerto Rico's future status.