I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1230 

To recognize the right of the People of Puerto Rico to call a Constitutional 

Convention through which the people would exercise their natural right 

to self-determination, and to establish a mechanism for congressional 

consideration of such decision. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 28, 2007 

Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ (for herself, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. WICKER, Mr. DUNCAN, 

Mr. RANGEL, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. 

BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. SIRES, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. HONDA, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. MEEKS

of New York, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, and Ms. SOLIS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 

Resources 

A BILL 

To recognize the right of the People of Puerto Rico to 

call a Constitutional Convention through which the people would exercise their natural right to self-determination, and to establish a mechanism for congressional 

consideration of such decision. 

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 Self-De5 termination Act of 2007’’. 

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1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 For the purposes of this Act: 

3 (1) COMMONWEALTH.—The term ‘‘Common4 wealth’’ means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 

5 (2) SELF-DETERMINATION OPTION.—The term 

6 ‘‘Self-Determination Option’’ means an option 

7 agreed to by a Constitutional Convention in the 

8 Commonwealth for a new or modified Common9 wealth status, Statehood, or Independence. A Self10 Determination Option must be based on the sov11 ereignty of the People of Puerto Rico and not sub12 ject to the plenary powers of the territorial clause of 

13 the Constitution of the United States. 

14 (3) SELF-DETERMINATION PROPOSAL.—The 

15 term ‘‘Self-Determination Proposal’’ means a Self 

16 Determination Option approved by the People of 

17 Puerto Rico in a referendum held pursuant to sec18 tion 4(b). 

19 (4) PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO.—The term 

20 ‘‘People of Puerto Rico’’ means residents in the 

21 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and non-resident 

22 Puerto Ricans. 

23 (5) NON-RESIDENT PUERTO RICANS.—The term 

24 ‘‘non-resident Puerto Ricans’’ refers to individuals 

25 who are not legal residents of the Commonwealth of 

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1 Puerto Rico and who are either born in Puerto Rico 

2 or have one parent born in Puerto Rico. 

3 (6) CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.—The term 

4 ‘‘Constitutional Convention’’ means a Convention of 

5 delegates elected by the People of Puerto Rico and 

6 convened pursuant to legislation approved by the 

7 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 

8 SEC. 3. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. 

9 Congress recognizes the inherent authority of the 

10 People of Puerto Rico to call a Constitutional Convention, 

11 constituted by a number of delegates to be determined in 

12 accordance to legislation approved by the Commonwealth 

13 of Puerto Rico, for the purpose of proposing to the People 

14 of Puerto Rico a Self-Determination Option, which if ap15 proved by the People of Puerto Rico in a referendum 

16 would be presented to Congress by the Constitutional Con17 vention as a Self-Determination Proposal. 

18 SEC. 4. SELF-DETERMINATION OPTION AND PROPOSAL. 

19 (a) CONSIDERATION OF SELF-DETERMINATION PRO20 POSAL.— 

21 (1) APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL.—If the People of 

22 Puerto Rico approve the Self-Determination Pro23 posal in a referendum, a joint resolution of Congress 

24 shall be enacted approving the terms of the Self-De25 termination Proposal, including provisions necessary 

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1 to implement the Self-Determination Proposal. If 

2 Congress approves the Self-Determination Proposal 

3 with any changes or amendments, it shall be sub4 mitted in a referendum vote to the People of Puerto 

5 Rico for approval before it shall be effective. 

6 (2) REJECTION OF PROPOSAL.—If a Self-Deter7 mination Proposal is rejected by Congress or is re8 jected by the People of Puerto Rico in a referendum 

9 held pursuant to paragraph (1), the Constitutional 

10 Convention may reconvene for the purpose of delib11 erating to adopt another Self-Determination Option 

12 to propose to the People of Puerto Rico and Con13 gress. 

14 SEC. 5. CONVENTION IN CONTINUOUS SESSION. 

15 A Constitutional Convention held pursuant to this 

16 Act may remain in session until a Self-Determination Pro17 posal is enacted by Federal law. 

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