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Contact: Steve Hansen
(202) 225-7749
To: National Desk/International Affairs
Reporter
October 9, 1997
Congressional Leaders Agree On Modified
"Commonwealth" Status Definition In Puerto Rico
Political Status Act
Washington, D.C. - The top Republican and Democrat
Member of the U.S. House Committee on Resources today agreed upon
a modified version of the "commonwealth" status
definition which will be part of the "United States-Puerto
Rico Political Status Act" ( H.R.
856).
U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) proposed a new commonwealth
definition which was then jointly modified by U.S. Rep. Don Young
(R-Alaska), Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Carlos
Romero-Barceló and U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) during a
meeting this afternoon.
This new definition and technical changes negotiated with the
Clinton Administration will be included in an amended version of
the bill when it comes to the floor of the U.S. House of
Representatives.
"This broadens and deepens the bipartisan support for
this important legislation to finally resolved Puerto Rico's
political status," said Young, the Chairman of the House
Committee on Resources, which has jurisdiction over the
legislation. "We are, and will, continue our efforts to
bring this legislation for a vote by the full House at the
earliest possible time.
"This was a good, constructive meeting between the
Congressional authors of the Puerto Rico bill which continues the
tradition of bipartisan cooperation on insular issues in the U.S.
Congress."
The Modified Commonwealth
Definition
Young said the modified commonwealth definition is:
1) Puerto Rico is joined in a relationship under the
national sovereignty of the United States. It is the policy
of the Congress that this relationship should only be
dissolved by mutual consent.
2) Under this relationship, Puerto Rico like a State
is an autonomous political entity, sovereign over matters not
ruled by the Constitution of the United States. In the
exercise of this sovereignty, the laws of the Commonwealth
shall govern in Puerto Rico to the extent that they are
consistent with the Constitution, treaties and laws of the
United States. Congress retains its Constitutional authority
to enact laws it deems necessary relating to Puerto Rico.
3) Persons born in Puerto Rico have United States
citizenship by statute as secured by the Constitution. It is
the policy of the United States that citizenship will
continue to be granted to persons born in Puerto Rico. The
rights, privileges and immunities provided for by the United
States Constitution apply in Puerto Rico, except where
limited by the Constitution to citizens residing in a State.
4) Puerto Rico will continue to participate in federal
programs and may be enabled to participate equally with the
States in the programs where it is not now participating
equally contingent on the payment of contributions, which may
include payment of taxes, as provided by federal law.
The United States-Puerto Rico
Political Status Act
H.R. 856 was approved by the House Resources Committee in May
1997 by a 44 to 1 vote. It will allow the people of Puerto Rico
to decide the future of their island. The Puerto Rican people
will decide upon
- 1) Statehood,
2) Commonwealth, or
3) Separate Sovereignty.
Young is the prime sponsor of the legislation, which includes
broad bipartisan support from nearly 90 members including:
- Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-GA), Speaker of
the House
- Puerto Rico's Democrat Resident Commissioner
Carlos Romero-Barceló
- Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), House Majority
Whip
- Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-NY), Chairman,
International Relations Committee
- Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA), Chairman,
Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere
- Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), Chairman,
Government Reform and Oversight
- Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL)
- Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO), House
Minority Leader
- Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), House Minority
Whip
- Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Ranking
Democrat of the House Committee on Resources
- Rep. José E. Serrano (D-NY)
- Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
For more information,
please check the House Committee on Resources Home Page at
http://www.house.gov/resources/
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