II 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1936 

To provide for a plebiscite on the future status of Puerto Rico. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 2, 2007 

Mr. SALAZAR (for himself, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. BAYH, Mr. CARPER, Mr. CRAIG, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. KERRY, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. MCCAIN, 

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Mr. STEVENS, Mr. 

HAGEL, and Mr. BROWNBACK) introduced the following bill; which was 

read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To provide for a plebiscite on the future status of Puerto 

Rico. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Puerto Rico Democ5 racy Act of 2007’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

9 means the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission. 


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1 (2) COMMONWEALTH.—The term ‘‘Common2 wealth’’ means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 

3 SEC. 3. PLEBISCITE. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 

5 2009, the Commission shall conduct a plebiscite in the 

6 Commonwealth, the ballot of which shall provide for voters 

7 to choose 1 of the following options only: 

8 (1) ‘‘The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico should 

9 continue to have its present status and relationship 

10 with the United States. If you agree, mark here 

11 lllllll.’’. 

12 (2) ‘‘The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico should 

13 seek independence from the United States. If you 

14 agree, mark here lllllll.’’. 

15 (3) ‘‘The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico should 

16 seek nationhood in free association with the United 

17 States. If you agree, mark here llllll.’’. 

18 (4) ‘‘The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico should 

19 seek admission as a State of the United States. If 

20 you agree, mark here llllll.’’. 

21 (b) RULES AND REGULATIONS.—The Commission 

22 shall issue any rules and regulations necessary to conduct 

23 the plebiscite under subsection (a). 

24 (c) CERTIFICATION OF RESULTS.—The Commission 

25 shall certify the results of the plebiscite conducted under 


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1 subsection (a) to the President and each member of Con2 gress. 

3 (d) FEDERAL COURT JURISDICTION.—The Federal 

4 courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over any 

5 legal claim or controversy arising from the implementation 

6 of this Act. 

7 SEC. 4. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR THE PLEBISCITE. 

8 (a) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS DERIVED FROM TAX

9 ON FOREIGN RUM.—During the period beginning on Oc10 tober 1, 2007, and ending on the date on which the results 

11 of the plebiscite have been certified under section 3(c), the 

12 Secretary of the Treasury shall allocate to the Commis13 sion, from amounts that would otherwise be covered into 

14 the treasury of the Commonwealth under section 

15 7652(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, not 

16 more than $5,000,000 to pay the costs incurred by the 

17 Commission in conducting the plebiscite, as determined by 

18 the President, in consultation with the Commission. 

19 (b) USE OF FUNDS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER

20 MATERIALS.—In allocating amounts to the Commission 

21 under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that the 

22 content of any Commission voter education materials to 

23 be prepared by the Commisison using those amounts are 


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1 not incompatible with the Constitution and the laws and 

2 policies of the United States. 

Æ 


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