IV

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 300

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the commonwealth option

presented in the Puerto Rican plebiscite of November 14, 1993.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 30, 1994

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska submitted the following concurrent resolution; which

was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the commonwealth option presented in the Puerto Rican plebiscite

of November 14, 1993.

Whereas the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto

Rico enacted legislation to allow the people of Puerto

Rico to express, through a plebiscite, their preference regarding the nature of the future relationship between

Puerto Rico and the United States;

Whereas the plebiscite ballot contained the status options of

statehood, commonwealth, and independence, as defined

by the three principal political parties of Puerto Rico;

Whereas, in the plebiscite of November 14, 1993, 48.6 percent of the people of Puerto Rico voted for commonwealth status, 46.3 percent voted for statehood status,

and 4.4 percent voted for independence;
2

•HCON 300 IH

Whereas the commonwealth status option presented to the

Puerto Rican electorate on November 14, 1993, proposed

significant changes to the current relationship between

Puerto Rico and the United States, including—

(1) the execution of a bilateral pact between Puerto

Rico and the United States that would be unalterable,

except by mutual consent;

(2) permanent union between Puerto Rico and the

United States;

(3) the extension of supplemental security income

(SSI) under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42

U.S.C. 1381 et seq.)) to citizens of Puerto Rico; and

(4) equality between Puerto Rico and the States regarding food stamp allocations under the Food Stamp

Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);

Whereas the commonwealth status option presented to the

Puerto Rican electorate on November 14, 1993, stated

that commonwealth status would guarantee—

(1) irrevocable United States citizenship;

(2) Puerto Rican fiscal autonomy; and

(3) a common market, common currency, and common defense with the United States;

Whereas the legislature of Puerto Rico passed a concurrent

resolution asking that the Congress make a statement

concerning the viability of the commonwealth ballot formula presented to the people of Puerto Rico in the plebiscite of November 14, 1993;
3

•HCON 300 IH

Whereas the Congress holds great respect for Puerto Ricans

as citizens of the United States; and

Whereas it is incumbent upon the Congress to express the

sense of the Congress concerning the viability of the elements of the commonwealth formula proposed in the November 14, 1993, plebiscite: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) the changes to the political relationship be4 tween Puerto Rico and the United States that are

5 described in the option of the Puerto Rico plebiscite

6 of November 14, 1993, known as the commonwealth

7 option would provide to United States citizens who

8 are residents of Puerto Rico the Federal benefits of

9 United States citizens living in the States without

10 the concomitant responsibilities;

11 (2) the commonwealth formula presented in the

12 Puerto Rican plebiscite of November 14, 1993, is

13 not an economically or politically viable alternative

14 to the current self-governing, unincorporated terri15 torial status of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;

16 and

17 (3) the unalterable bilateral pact that such com18 monwealth formula proposes as the vehicle for the

19 permanent union of Puerto Rico with the United

20 States is not a constitutionally viable alternative to
4

•HCON 300 IH

1 the current self-governing, unincorporated territorial

2 status of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

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