IIB 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2499 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
APRIL 30, 2010 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources 
AN ACT 
To provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination 
process for the people of Puerto Rico. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Puerto Rico Democ-
racy Act of 2010’’. 
SEC. 2. FEDERALLY SANCTIONED PROCESS FOR PUERTO 
RICO’S SELF-DETERMINATION. 
(a) FIRST PLEBISCITE.—The Government of Puerto 
Rico is authorized to conduct a plebiscite in Puerto Rico. 
The 2 options set forth on the ballot shall be preceded 
by the following statement: ‘‘Instructions: Mark one of the 
following 2 options: 
‘‘(1) Puerto Rico should continue to have its 
present form of political status. If you agree, mark 
here ll. 
‘‘(2) Puerto Rico should have a different polit-
ical status. If you agree, mark here ll.’’. 
(b) PROCEDURE IF MAJORITY IN FIRST PLEBISCITE 
FAVORS OPTION 1.—If a majority of the ballots in the 
plebiscite are cast in favor of Option 1, the Government 
of Puerto Rico is authorized to conduct additional plebi-
scites under subsection (a) at intervals of every 8 years 
from the date that the results of the prior plebiscite are 
certified under section 3(d). 
(c) PROCEDURE IF MAJORITY IN FIRST PLEBISCITE 
FAVORS OPTION 2.—If a majority of the ballots in a plebi-
scite conducted pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) are cast 
in favor of Option 2, the Government of Puerto Rico is 
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authorized to conduct a plebiscite on the following 4 op-
tions: 
(1) Independence: Puerto Rico should become 
fully independent from the United States. If you 
agree, mark here ll. 
(2) Sovereignty in Association with the United 
States: Puerto Rico and the United States should 
form a political association between sovereign na-
tions that will not be subject to the Territorial 
Clause of the United States Constitution. If you 
agree, mark here ll. 
(3) Statehood: Puerto Rico should be admitted 
as a State of the Union. If you agree, mark here 
ll. 
(4) Commonwealth: Puerto Rico should con-
tinue to have its present form of political status. If 
you agree, mark here lll. 
SEC. 3. APPLICABLE LAWS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) APPLICABLE LAWS.—All Federal laws applicable 
to the election of the Resident Commissioner shall, as ap-
propriate and consistent with this Act, also apply to any 
plebiscites held pursuant to this Act. Any reference in 
such Federal laws to elections shall be considered, as ap-
propriate, to be a reference to the plebiscites, unless it 
would frustrate the purposes of this Act. 
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(b) RULES AND REGULATIONS.—The Puerto Rico 
State Elections Commission shall issue all rules and regu-
lations necessary to carry out the plebiscites under this 
Act. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE.—Each of the following 
shall be eligible to vote in any plebiscite held under this 
Act: 
(1) All eligible voters under the electoral laws in 
effect in Puerto Rico at the time the plebiscite is 
held. 
(2) All United States citizens born in Puerto 
Rico who comply, to the satisfaction of the Puerto 
Rico State Elections Commission, with all Commis-
sion requirements (other than the residency require-
ment) applicable to eligibility to vote in a general 
election in Puerto Rico. Persons eligible to vote 
under this subsection shall, upon timely request sub-
mitted to the Commission in compliance with any 
terms imposed by the Electoral Law of Puerto Rico, 
be entitled to receive an absentee ballot for the plebi-
scite. 
(d) CERTIFICATION OF PLEBISCITE RESULTS.—The 
Puerto Rico State Elections Commission shall certify the 
results of any plebiscite held under this Act to the Presi-
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dent of the United States and to the Members of the Sen-
ate and House of Representatives of the United States. 
(e) ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
Puerto Rico State Elections Commission shall— 
(1) ensure that all ballots used for any plebi-
scite held under this Act include the full content of 
the ballot printed in English; 
(2) inform persons voting in any plebiscite held 
under this Act that, if Puerto Rico retains its cur-
rent political status or is admitted as a State of the 
United States, the official language requirements of 
the Federal Government shall apply to Puerto Rico 
in the same manner and to the same extent as 
throughout the United States; and 
(3) inform persons voting in any plebiscite held 
under this Act that, if Puerto Rico retains its cur-
rent political status or is admitted as a State of the 
United States, it is the Sense of Congress that it is 
in the best interest of the United States for the 
teaching of English to be promoted in Puerto Rico 
as the language of opportunity and empowerment in 
the United States in order to enable students in 
public schools to achieve English language pro-
ficiency. 
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(f) PLEBISCITE COSTS.—All costs associated with 
any plebiscite held under this Act (including the printing, 
distribution, transportation, collection, and counting of all 
ballots) shall be paid for by the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico. 
Passed the House of Representatives April 29, 2010. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
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