[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 52 (Monday, January 1, 2001)]
[Pages 3177-3178]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Resolution of Puerto Rico's Status

December 23, 2000

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

Subject: Resolution of Puerto Rico's Status

    Although Puerto Rico was acquired in connection with the Spanish-
American War and United States citizenship is granted to persons born on 
the islands, Puerto Rico's ultimate status has not been determined. 
Until that issue is resolved, questions remain about how United States 
economic and social policies should apply to the citizens of Puerto 
Rico.
    Further, although our citizens in Puerto Rico have been granted the 
exercise of authority on local matters similar to that of citizens of a 
State, they do not have voting representation in the Federal Government.
    All three of Puerto Rico's major political parties are based on 
different visions of what the options for a fully democratic status are, 
and what the best status would be. And all advocate a substantial change 
in the islands' status. The Commonwealth held a referendum on options 
for its future status in December 1998, including the current governing 
arrangement, and other recognized options, but a majority of the vote 
was for a ``None of the Above'' column.
    Much of the debate on the issue concerns what options are available 
to Puerto Rico, in light of the Constitution and the basic laws and 
policies of the United States. The elected representatives of the people 
of Puerto Rico have, therefore, repeatedly petitioned the Federal 
Government to clarify the islands' status options as well as the process 
by which

[[Page 3178]]

Puerto Ricans can determine the islands' future status.
    The United States has a responsibility to answer such questions. 
Successive Presidents, and the Congress in 1998, have supported the 
people of Puerto Rico in determining their status preference from among 
options that are not incompatible with the Constitution and basic laws 
and policies of the United States. I have made it the policy of the 
executive branch to work with the leaders of the Commonwealth and the 
Congress to enable Puerto Ricans to choose their future status. We also 
have the responsibility to help Puerto Ricans obtain the necessary 
transitional legislation toward a new status, if chosen.
    To ensure that the Federal Government continues to address the 
fundamental question concerning the islands until it is resolved, 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, I have today 
issued an Executive Order establishing the President's Task Force on 
Puerto Rico's Status (President's Task Force) and further direct as 
follows:
1.          The Co-Chairs of the President's Task Force shall conduct an 
            ongoing dialogue with the Governor and Resident Commissioner 
            of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico's major political parties and 
            other groups that advocate a change in the islands' status, 
            and the Chairs and Ranking Minority Members of the House of 
            Representatives Committee on Resources and the Senate 
            Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. This dialogue 
            shall focus on the options for Puerto Rico's future status 
            and the process by which Puerto Ricans can realize such an 
            option. It shall seek to facilitate communications among the 
            offices that the aforementioned officials represent on 
            matters relating to the status of the Commonwealth, and 
            ensure official attention to, and facilitate action on, such 
            matters. In particular, the dialogue shall seek to clarify 
            the options for Puerto Rico's future status and enable 
            Puerto Ricans to choose among those options.
2.          The Co-Chairs of the President's Task Force shall monitor 
            the expenditure of funds for public education on and a 
            public choice among Puerto Rico's status options pursuant to 
            Public Law 106-346. This monitoring shall include ensuring 
            that educational materials are accurate, objective, and 
            nonpartisan and that they are consistent with the standards 
            set forth in the Executive Order entitled ``Establishment of 
            the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status.''
3.          The heads of executive departments and agencies shall 
            cooperate with the Co-Chairs in fulfilling the assignments 
            provided for herein and in the accompanying Executive Order.
                                            William J. Clinton