[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 52 (Monday, January 1, 2001)]
[Pages 3176-3177]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13183--Establishment of the President's Task Force on 
Puerto Rico's Status

December 23, 2000

    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

[[Page 3177]]

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 annually on progress made in the determination of Puerto 
Rico's ultimate status.
                                            William J. Clinton
 The White House,
 December 23, 2000.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., December 28, 
2000]

 Note:  This Executive order was published in the  Federal Register  on 
December 29.