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103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4442

To provide consultations for the development of Articles of Relations and

Self-Government for insular areas of the United States.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 17, 1994

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To provide consultations for the development of Articles of

Relations and Self-Government for insular areas of the

United States.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

4 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that:

5 (1) The United States of America has long been

6 committed to making it possible for all peoples to ex7 ercise their inherent rights of self-government.

8 (2) While the nearly four million citizens of the

9 insular areas of the United States of America are

10 United States citizens (or, in the case of American
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1 Samoa, United States nationals) and have achieved

2 local self-government, they do not fully participate in

3 the Federal decisionmaking process although they

4 are subject to Federal laws, rules, and regulations.

5 SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

6 The purpose of this Act is to provide a process where7 by the citizens of United States insular areas can achieve

8 a full measure of self-government through political inte9 gration into the United States or through another ar10 rangement with the United States.

11 SEC. 3. ARTICLES OF RELATIONS AND SELF-GOVERNMENT.

12 (a) GENERAL AUTHORIZATION.—Before December

13 31, 1998, the President and the government of an insular

14 area may develop, and submit to the Congress, proposed

15 measures to enable the citizens of the insular area to exer16 cise greater powers of self-government or greater partici17 pation in the Federal system.

18 (b) APPOINTMENT OF UNITED STATES REPRESENT19 ATIVE.—At the request of the government of an insular

20 area transmitted not later than December 31, 1997, the

21 President shall designate a personal representative to con22 sult and develop in good faith with representatives des23 ignated by the government of the area, Articles of Rela24 tions and Self-Government.
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1 (c) SUBMISSION DEADLINE.—The proposed Articles

2 and a report on the consultations shall be submitted to

3 the Congress within one year after the appointment of a

4 representative under subsection (b).

5 (d) RATIFICATION.—Upon enactment of a resolution

6 approving the proposed Articles, the legislation shall be

7 submitted to the citizens of the insular area in a plebiscite

8 organized by the government of the insular area and shall

9 take effect in accordance with the terms of such resolution

10 if ratified by a majority vote in that plebiscite.

11 (e) INSULAR AREA DEFINED.—For the purpose of

12 this Act, the term ‘‘insular area’’ includes American

13 Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mari14 ana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the

15 Virgin Islands.

16 SEC. 4. GENERAL INSULAR AREAS PROCESSES.

17 The process for developing the status of insular areas

18 provided for by this Act shall be in addition to any other

19 process for addressing issues in the relationship between

20 the United States and an insular area established by or

21 initiated pursuant to any other Federal or insular area

22 Act and enactment of this Act is not intended to prevent

23 or limit such efforts.

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