I
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4281
To provide a process leading to full self-government for Puerto Rico.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 28, 1996
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska (for himself, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, and Mr.
GALLEGLY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned
A BILL
To provide a process leading to full self-government for
Puerto Rico.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘United States-Puerto Rico Political Status Act’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Policy.
Sec. 4. Process for Puerto Rican full self-government, including the initial deci-
sion stage, transition stage, and implementation stage.
Sec. 5. Requirements relating to referenda, including inconclusive referendum
and applicable laws.
Sec. 6. Congressional procedures for consideration of legislation.
Sec. 7. Availability of funds for the referenda.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States
and came under this Nation’s sovereignty pursuant
to the Treaty of Paris ending the Spanish-American
War in 1898. Article IX of the Treaty of Paris ex-
pressly recognizes the authority of Congress to pro-
vide for the political status of the inhabitants of the
territory.
(2) Consistent with establishment of United
States nationality for inhabitants of Puerto Rico
under the Treaty of Paris, Congress has exercised
its powers under the Territorial Clause of the Con-
stitution (article IV, section 3, clause 2) to provide
by statute for the citizenship status of persons born
in Puerto Rico, including extension of special statu-
tory United States citizenship from 1917 to the
present.
(3) Consistent with the Territorial Clause and
rulings of the United States Supreme Court, partial
application of the United States Constitution has
been established in the unincorporated territories of
the United States including Puerto Rico.
(4) In 1950 Congress prescribed a procedure
for instituting internal self-government for Puerto
Rico pursuant to statutory authorization for a local
constitution. A local constitution was approved by
the people, amended and conditionally approved by
Congress, and thereupon given effect in 1952 after
acceptance of congressional conditions by the Puerto
Rico Constitutional Convention and an appropriate
proclamation by the Governor. The approved con-
stitution established the structure for constitutional
government in respect of internal affairs without al-
tering Puerto Rico’s fundamental political, social,
and economic relationship with the United States
and without restricting the authority of Congress
under the Territorial Clause to determine the appli-
cation of Federal law to Puerto Rico, resulting in
the present ‘‘Commonwealth’’ structure for local
self-government. The Commonwealth remains an un-
incorporated territory and does not have the status
of ‘‘free association’’ with the United States as that
status is defined under United States law or inter-
national practice.
(5) In 1953 the United States transmitted to
the Secretary-General of the United Nations for cir-
culation to its Members a formal notification that
the United States no longer would transmit informa-
tion regarding Puerto Rico to the United Nations
pursuant to Article 73(e) of its Charter. The formal
United States notification document informed the
United Nations that the cessation of information on
Puerto Rico was based on the ‘‘new constitutional
arrangements’’ in the territory, and the United
States expressly defined the scope of the ‘‘full meas-
ure’’ of local self-government in Puerto Rico as ex-
tending to matters of ‘‘internal government and ad-
ministration, subject only to compliance with appli-
cable provisions of the Federal Constitution, the
Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act and the acts of
Congress authorizing and approving the Constitu-
tion, as may be interpreted by judicial decision.’’.
Thereafter, the General Assembly of the United Na-
tions, based upon consent of the inhabitants of the
territory and the United States explanation of the
new status as approved by Congress, adopted Reso-
lution 748 (VIII) by a vote of 22 to 18 with 19 ab-
stentions, thereby accepting the United States deter-
mination to cease reporting to the United Nations
on the status of Puerto Rico.
(6) In 1960 the United Nations General Assem-
bly approved Resolution 1541 (XV), clarifying that
under United Nations standards regarding the polit-
ical status options available to the people of terri-
tories yet to complete the process for achieving full
self-government, the three established forms of full
self-government are national independence, free as-
sociation based on separate sovereignty, or full inte-
gration with another nation on the basis of equality.
(7) The ruling of the United States Supreme
Court in the 1980 case Harris v. Rosario (446 U.S.
651) confirmed that Congress continues to exercise
authority over Puerto Rico as territory ‘‘belonging to
the United States’’ pursuant to the Territorial
Clause found at Article IV, section 3, clause 2 of the
United States Constitution, a judicial interpretation
of Puerto Rico’s status which is in accordance with
the clear intent of Congress that establishment of
local constitutional government in 1952 did not alter
Puerto Rico’s status as an unincorporated United
States territory.
(8) In a joint letter dated January 17, 1989,
cosigned by the Governor of Puerto Rico in his ca-
pacity as president of one of Puerto Rico’s principal
political parties and the presidents of the two other
principal political parties of Puerto Rico, the United
States was formally advised that ‘‘. . . the People of
Puerto Rico wish to be consulted as to their pref-
erence with regards to their ultimate political sta-
tus’’, and the joint letter stated ‘‘. . . that since
Puerto Rico came under the sovereignty of the Unit-
ed States of America through the Treaty of Paris
in 1898, the People of Puerto Rico have not been
formally consulted by the United States of America
as to their choice of their ultimate political status’’.
(9) In the 1989 State of the Union Message,
President George Bush urged the Congress to take
the necessary steps to authorize a federally recog-
nized process allowing the people of Puerto Rico, for
the first time since the Treaty of Paris entered into
force, to freely express their wishes regarding their
future political status in a congressionally recognized
referendum, a step in the process of self-determina-
tion which the Congress has yet to authorize.
(10) In November of 1993, the Government of
Puerto Rico conducted a plebiscite initiated under
local law on Puerto Rico’s political status. In that
vote none of the three status propositions received a
majority of the votes cast. The results of that vote
were: 48.6 percent commonwealth, 46.3 percent
statehood, and 4.4 percent independence.
(11) In 1994, President William Jefferson Clin-
ton established the Executive Branch Interagency
Working Group on Puerto Rico to coordinate the re-
view, development, and implementation of executive
branch policy concerning issues affecting Puerto
Rico, including the November 1993 plebiscite.
(12) There have been inconsistent and conflict-
ing interpretations of the 1993 plebiscite results,
and under the Territorial Clause of the Constitution,
Congress has the authority and responsibility to de-
termine Federal policy and clarify status issues in
order to advance the self-determination process in
Puerto Rico.
(13) On December 14, 1994, the Puerto Rico
Legislature enacted Concurrent Resolution 62, which
requested the 104th Congress to respond to the re-
sults of the 1993 Puerto Rico Status Plebiscite and
to indicate the next steps in resolving Puerto Rico’s
political status.
(14) Nearly 4,000,000 United States citizens
live in the islands of Puerto Rico, which have been
under United States sovereignty and within the
United States customs territory for almost 100
years, making Puerto Rico the oldest, largest, and
most populous United States island territory at the
southeastern-most boundary of our Nation, located
astride the strategic shipping lanes of the Atlantic
Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
(15) Full self-government for Puerto Rico is at-
tainable only through establishment of a political
status which is based on either separate Puerto
Rican sovereignty and nationality or full and equal
United States nationality and citizenship through
membership in the Union and under which Puerto
Rico is no longer an unincorporated territory subject
to the plenary authority of Congress arising from
the Territorial Clause.
SEC. 3. POLICY.
(a) CONGRESSIONAL COMMITMENT.—In recognition
of the significant level of local self-government which has
been attained by Puerto Rico, and the responsibility of the
Federal Government to enable the people of the territory
to freely express their wishes regarding political status and
achieve full self-government, this Act is adopted with a
commitment to encourage the development and implemen-
tation of procedures through which the permanent politi-
cal status of the people of Puerto Rico can be determined.
(b) OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.—It is the policy of the
Congress that English shall be the common language of
mutual understanding in the United States, and that this
policy shall apply in all of the States duly and freely ad-
mitted to the Union. The Congress recognizes that at the
present time, Spanish and English are the joint official
languages of Puerto Rico, and have been for nearly 100
years; that English is the official language of Federal
courts in Puerto Rico; that the ability to speak English
is a requirement for Federal jury services; yet Spanish
rather than English is currently the predominant language
used by the majority of the people of Puerto Rico; and
that Congress has the authority to expand existing Eng-
lish language requirements in the Commonwealth of Puer-
to Rico. In the event that the referenda held under this
Act result in approval of sovereignty leading to Statehood,
it is anticipated that upon accession to Statehood, English
would become the official language of the Federal Govern-
ment in Puerto Rico to the same extent as Federal law
then requires throughout the United States. Congress also
recognizes the significant advantage that proficiency in
Spanish as well as English has bestowed on the people
of Puerto Rico, and further that this will serve the best
interests of both Puerto Rico and the rest of the United
States in our mutual dealings in the Caribbean, Latin
America, and throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
SEC. 4. PROCESS FOR PUERTO RICAN FULL SELF-GOVERN-
MENT, INCLUDING THE INITIAL DECISION
STAGE, TRANSITION STAGE, AND IMPLEMEN-
TATION STAGE.
(a) INITIAL DECISION STAGE.—A referendum on
Puerto Rico’s political status shall be held not later than
December 31, 1998. The referendum shall be held pursu-
ant to this Act and in accordance with the applicable pro-
visions of Puerto Rico’s electoral law and other relevant
statutes consistent with this Act. Approval of a status op-
tion must be by a majority of the valid votes cast. The
referendum shall be on the approval of 1 of the 3 options
presented on the ballot as follows:
‘‘Instructions: Mark the status option you choose as
each is defined below. Ballot with more than 1 option
marked will not be counted.
‘‘A. COMMONWEALTH.—If you agree, mark here
lll
‘‘Puerto Rico should retain Commonwealth, in
which—
‘‘(1) Puerto Rico continues the present Com-
monwealth structure for self government with re-
spect to internal affairs and administration;
‘‘(2) provisions of the Constitution and laws of
the United States apply to Puerto Rico as deter-
mined by Congress;
‘‘(3) Puerto Rico remains a locally self-govern-
ing unincorporated territory of the United States;
‘‘(4) continuation or modification of current
Federal law and policy applicable to Puerto Rico re-
mains within the discretion of Congress; and
‘‘(5) the ultimate status of Puerto Rico will be
determined through a process authorized by Con-
gress which includes self determination by the people
of Puerto Rico in periodic referenda.
‘‘B. SEPARATE SOVEREIGNTY.—If you agree, mark
here lll
‘‘Puerto Rico should become fully self governing
through separate sovereignty leading to independence or
free association, in which—
‘‘(1) Puerto Rico is a sovereign nation with full
authority and responsibility for its internal and ex-
ternal affairs and has the capacity to exercise in its
own name and right the powers of government with
respect to its territory and population;
‘‘(2) a negotiated treaty of friendship and co-
operation, or an international bilateral pact of free
association terminable at will by either Puerto Rico
or the United States, defines future relations be-
tween Puerto Rico and the United States, providing
for cooperation and assistance in matters of shared
interest as agreed and approved by Puerto Rico and
the United States pursuant to this Act and their re-
spective constitutional processes;
‘‘(3) a constitution democratically instituted by
the people of Puerto Rico, establishing a republican
form of full self-government and securing the rights
of citizens of the Puerto Rican nation, is the su-
preme law, and the Constitution and laws of the
United States no longer apply in Puerto Rico;
‘‘(4) The people of Puerto Rico owe allegiance
to the sovereign nation of Puerto Rico and have the
nationality, and citizenship thereof; United States
sovereignty, nationality, and citizenship in Puerto
Rico is ended; birth in Puerto Rico and relationship
to persons with statutory United States citizenship
by birth in the former territory are not bases for
United States nationality or citizenship, except that
persons who had such United States citizenship have
a statutory right to retain United States nationality
and citizenship for life, by entitlement or election as
provided by the United States Congress, based on
continued allegiance to the United States: Provided,
‘‘(8) Puerto Rico is outside the customs terri-
tory of the United States, and trade between the
United States and Puerto Rico is based on a treaty.
‘‘C. STATEHOOD.—If you agree, mark here lll
‘‘Puerto Rico should become fully self governing
through United States sovereignty leading to Statehood,
in which—
‘‘(1) the people of Puerto Rico are fully self-
governing with their rights secured under the United
States Constitution, which is the supreme law and
has the same force and effect as in the other States
of the Union;
‘‘(2) the sovereign State of Puerto Rico is in
permanent union with the United States, and powers
not delegated to the Federal Government or prohib-
ited to the States by the United States Constitution
are reserved to the people of Puerto Rico or the
State Government;
‘‘(3) United States citizenship of those born in
Puerto Rico is guaranteed, protected and secured in
the same way it is for all United States citizens born
in the other States;
‘‘(4) residents of Puerto Rico have equal rights
and benefits as well as equal duties and responsibil-
ities of citizenship, including payment of Federal
taxes, as those in the several States;
‘‘(5) Puerto Rico is represented by two mem-
bers in the United States Senate and is represented
in the House of Representatives proportionate to the
population;
‘‘(6) United States citizens in Puerto Rico are
enfranchised to vote in elections for the President
and Vice President of the United States; and
‘‘(7) English is the official language of business
and communication in Federal courts and Federal
agencies as made applicable by Federal law to every
other State, and Puerto Rico is enabled to expand
and build upon existing law establishing English as
an official language of the State government, courts,
and agencies.’’.
(b) TRANSITION STAGE.—
(1) PLAN.—(A) Within 180 days of the receipt
of the results of the referendum from the Govern-
ment of Puerto Rico certifying approval of a ballot
choice of full self-government in a referendum held
pursuant to subsection (a), the President shall de-
velop and submit to Congress legislation for a tran-
sition plan of 10 years minimum which leads to full
self-government for Puerto Rico consistent with the
terms of this Act and in consultation with officials
of the three branches of the Government of Puerto
Rico, the principal political parties of Puerto Rico,
and other interested persons as may be appropriate.
(B) Additionally, in the event of a vote in favor
of separate sovereignty, the Legislature of Puerto
Rico, if deemed appropriate, may provide by law for
the calling of a constituent convention to formulate,
in accordance with procedures prescribed by law,
Puerto Rico’s proposals and recommendations to im-
plement the referendum results. If a convention is
called for this purpose, any proposals and rec-
ommendations formally adopted by such convention
within time limits of this Act shall be transmitted to
Congress by the President with the transition plan
required by this section, along with the views of the
President regarding the compatibility of such pro-
posals and recommendations with the United States
Constitution and this Act, and identifying which, if
any, of such proposals and recommendations have
been addressed in the President’s proposed transi-
tion plan.
(C) Additionally, in the event of a vote in favor
of United States sovereignty leading to Statehood,
the President shall include in the transition plan
provided for in this Act, proposals and incentives to
increase the opportunities of the people of Puerto
Rico to learn to speak, read, write, and understand
English fully, including but not limited to, the teach-
ing of English in public schools, fellowships, and
scholarships. The transition plan should promote the
usage of English by the United States citizens of
Puerto Rico, in order to best allow for—
(i) the enhancement of the century old
practice of English as an official language of
Puerto Rico, consistent with the preservation of
our Nation’s unity in diversity and the preven-
tion of divisions along linguistic lines;
(ii) the use of language skills necessary to
contribute most effectively to the Nation in all
aspects, including but not limited to Hemi-
spheric trade, and for citizens to enjoy the full
rights and benefits of their citizenship;
(iii) the promotion of efficiency and fair-
ness to all people in the conduct of the Federal
and State government’s official business; and
(iv) the ability of all citizens to take full
advantage of the economical, educational, and
occupational opportunities through full integra-
tion with the United States.
(2) 
CONGRESSIONAL
CONSIDERATION.—The
plan shall be considered by the Congress in accord-
ance with section 6.
(3) PUERTO RICAN APPROVAL.—
(A) Not later than 180 days after enact-
ment of an Act pursuant to paragraph (1) pro-
viding for the transition to full self-government
for Puerto Rico as approved in the initial deci-
sion referendum held under subsection (a), a
referendum shall be held under the applicable
provisions of Puerto Rico’s electoral law on the
question of approval of the transition plan.
(B) Approval must be by a majority of the
valid votes cast. The results of the referendum
shall be certified to the President of the United
States.
(4) EFFECTIVE DATE FOR TRANSITION PLAN.—
The President of the United States shall issue a
proclamation announcing the effective date of the
transition plan to full self-government for Puerto
Rico.
(c) IMPLEMENTATION STAGE.—
(1) PRESIDENTIAL
RECOMMENDATION.—Not
less than two years prior to the end of the period
of the transition provided for in the transition plan
approved under subsection (b), the President shall
submit to Congress legislation with a recommenda-
tion for the implementation of full self-government
for Puerto Rico consistent with the ballot choice ap-
proved under subsection (a).
(2) 
CONGRESSIONAL
CONSIDERATION.—The
plan shall be considered by the Congress in accord-
ance with section 6.
(3) PUERTO RICAN APPROVAL.—
(A) Within 180 days after enactment of
the terms of implementation for full self-govern-
ment for Puerto Rico, a referendum shall be
held under the applicable provisions of Puerto
Rico’s electoral laws on the question of the ap-
proval of the terms of implementation for full
self-government for Puerto Rico.
(B) Approval must be by a majority of the
valid votes cast. The results of the referendum
shall be certified to the President of the United
States.
(4) EFFECTIVE DATE OF FULL SELF-GOVERN-
MENT.—The President of the United States shall
issue a proclamation announcing the date of imple-
mentation of full self-government for Puerto Rico.
SEC. 5. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO REFERENDA, IN-
CLUDING INCONCLUSIVE REFERENDUM AND
APPLICABLE LAWS.
(a) APPLICABLE LAWS.—
(1) 
REFERENDA
UNDER
PUERTO
RICAN
LAWS.—The referenda held under this Act shall be
conducted in accordance with the applicable laws of
Puerto Rico, including laws of Puerto Rico under
which voter eligibility is determined and which re-
quire United States citizenship and establish other
statutory requirements for voter eligibility of resi-
dents and nonresidents.
(2) FEDERAL LAWS.—The Federal laws appli-
cable to the election of the Resident Commissioner
of Puerto Rico shall, as appropriate and consistent
with this Act, also apply to the referenda. Any ref-
erence in such Federal laws to elections shall be con-
sidered, as appropriate, to be a reference to the
referenda, unless it would frustrate the purposes of
this Act.
(b) CERTIFICATION OF REFERENDA RESULTS.—The
results of each referendum held under this Act shall be
certified to the President of the United States and the
Senate and House of Representatives of the United States
by the Government of Puerto Rico.
(c) CONSULTATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IN-
CONCLUSIVE REFERENDUM.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—If a referendum provided in
section 4(b) or (c) of this Act does not result in ap-
proval of a fully self-governing status, the President,
in consultation with officials of the three branches of
the Government of Puerto Rico, the principal politi-
cal parties of Puerto Rico, and other interested per-
sons as may be appropriate, shall make rec-
ommendations to the Congress within 180 days of
receipt of the results of the referendum.
(2) EXISTING STRUCTURE TO REMAIN IN EF-
FECT.—If the inhabitants of the territory do not
achieve full self-governance through either integra-
tion into the Union or separate sovereignty in the
form of independence or free association, Puerto
Rico will remain an unincorporated territory of the
United States, subject to the authority of Congress
under Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 of the United
States Constitution. In that event, the existing Com-
monwealth of Puerto Rico structure for local self-
government will remain in effect, subject to such
other measures as may be adopted by Congress in
the exercise of it’s Territorial Clause powers to de-
termine the disposition of the territory and status of
it’s inhabitants.
(3) AUTHORITY OF CONGRESS TO DETERMINE
STATUS.—Since current unincorporated territory
status of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is not
a permanent, unalterable or guaranteed status under
the Constitution of the United States, Congress re-
tains plenary authority and responsibility to deter-
mine a permanent status for Puerto Rico consistent
with the national interest. The Congress historically
has recognized a commitment to take into consider-
ation the freely expressed wishes of the people of
Puerto Rico regarding their future political status.
This policy is consistent with respect for the right of
self-determination in areas which are not fully self-
governing, but does not constitute a legal restriction
or binding limitation on the Territorial Clause pow-
ers of Congress to determine a permanent status of
Puerto Rico. Nor does any such restriction or limita-
tion arise from the Puerto Rico Federal Relations
Act (48 U.S.C. 731 et seq.).
(4) ADDITIONAL REFERENDA.—To ensure that
the Congress is able on a continuing basis to exer-
cise its Territorial Clause powers with due regard
for the wishes of the people of Puerto Rico respect-
ing resolution of Puerto Rico’s permanent future po-
litical status, in the event that a referendum con-
ducted under section four is inconclusive as provided
in this subsection, or a majority vote to continue the
Commonwealth structure as a territory, there shall
be another referendum in accordance with this Act
prior to the expiration of a period of four years from
the date such inconclusive results are certified or de-
termined. This procedure shall be repeated every
four years, but not in a general election year, until
Puerto Rico’s unincorporated territory status is ter-
minated in favor of a recognized form of full self-
government in accordance with this Act.
SEC. 6. CONGRESSIONAL PROCEDURES FOR CONSIDER-
ATION OF LEGISLATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The majority leader of the House
of Representatives (or his designee) and the majority lead-
er of the Senate (or his designee) shall each introduce leg-
islation (by request) providing for the transition plan
under section 4(b) and the implementation recommenda-
tion under section 4(c) not later than 5 legislative days
after the date of receipt by Congress of the submission
by the President under that section, as the case may be.
(b) REFERRAL.—The legislation shall be referred on
the date of introduction to the appropriate committee or
committees in accordance with rules of the respective
Houses. The legislation shall be reported not later than
the 120th calendar day after the date of its introduction.
If any such committee fails to report the bill within that
period, that committee shall be automatically discharged
from consideration of the legislation, and the legislation
shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.
(c) CONSIDERATION.—
(1) After the 14th legislative day after the date
on which the last committee of the House of Rep-
resentatives or the Senate, as the case may be, has
reported or been discharged from further consider-
ation of such legislation, it is in order after the legis-
lation has been on the calendar for 14 legislative
days for any Member of that House in favor of the
legislation to move to proceed to the consideration of
the legislation (after consultation with the presiding
officer of that House as to scheduling) to move to
proceed to its consideration at any time after the
third legislative day on which the Member announces
to the respective House concerned the Member’s in-
tention to do so. All points of order against the mo-
tion to proceed and against consideration of that
motion are waived. The motion is highly privileged
in the House of Representatives and is privileged in
the Senate and is not debatable. The motion is not
subject to amendment, or to a motion to postpone,
or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of
other business. A motion to reconsider the vote by
which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall
not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consid-
eration of the legislation is agreed to, the respective
House shall immediately proceed to consideration of
the legislation without intervening motion (exception
one motion to adjourn), order, or other business.
(2)(A) In the House of Representatives, during
consideration of the legislation in the Committee of
the Whole, the first reading of the legislation shall
be dispensed with. General debate shall be confined
to the legislation, and shall not exceed 4 hours
equally divided and controlled by a proponent and
an opponent of the legislation. After general debate,
the legislation shall be considered as read for
amendment under the five-minute rule. Consider-
ation of the legislation for amendment shall not ex-
ceed 4 hours excluding time for recorded votes and
quorum calls. At the conclusion of the bill for
amendment, the Committee shall rise and report the
bill to the House with such amendments as may
have been adopted. The previous question shall be
(A) the legislation of the other House shall not
be referred to a committee and may not be consid-
ered in the House that receives it otherwise than on
final passage under subparagraph (B)(ii) or (iii);
and
(B)(i) the procedure in the House that receives
such legislation with respect to such legislation that
was introduced in that House shall be the same as
if no legislation had been received from the other
House; but
(ii) in the case of legislation received from the
other House that is identical to the legislation as en-
grossed by the receiving House, the vote on final
passage shall be on the legislation of the other
House; or
(iii) after passage of the legislation, the legisla-
tion of the other House shall be considered as
amended with the text of the legislation just passed
and shall be considered as passed, and that House
shall be considered to have insisted on its amend-
ment and requested a conference with the other
House.
(2) Upon disposition of the legislation described
in subsection (a) that is received by one House from
the other House, it shall no longer be in order to
consider such legislation that was introduced in the
receiving House.
(e) Upon receiving from the other House a message
in which that House insists upon its amendment to the
legislation and requests a conference with the House of
Representatives or the Senate, as the case may be, on the
disagreeing votes thereon, the House receiving the request
shall be considered to have disagreed to the amendment
of the other House and agreed to the conference requested
by that House.
(f) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this section,
the term ‘‘legislative day’’ means a day on which the
House of Representatives or the Senate, as appropriate,
is in session.
(g) EXERCISE OF RULEMAKING POWER.—The provi-
sions of this section are enacted by the Congress—
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of
the Senate and the House of Representatives and, as
such, shall be considered as part of the rules of each
House and shall supersede other rules only to the
extent that they are inconsistent therewith; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional
right of either House to change the rules (so far as
they relate to the procedures of that House) at any
time, in the same manner, and to the same extent
as in the case of any other rule of that House.
SEC. 7. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR THE REFERENDA.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS DERIVED FROM
TAX ON FOREIGN RUM.—During the period begin-
ning on October 1, 1996, and ending on the date the
President determines that all referenda required by
this Act have been held, from the amounts covered
into the treasury of Puerto Rico under section
7652(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
the Secretary of the Treasury—
(A) upon request and in the amounts iden-
tified from time to time by the President, shall
make the amounts so identified available to the
treasury of Puerto Rico for the purposes speci-
fied in subsection (b); and
(B) shall transfer all remaining amounts to
the treasury of Puerto Rico, as under current
law.
(2) REPORT OF REFERENDA EXPENDITURES.—
Within 180 days after each referendum required by
this Act, and after the end of the period specified in
paragraph (1), the President, in consultation with
the Government of Puerto Rico, shall submit a re-
port to the United States Senate and United States
House of Representatives on the amounts made
available under paragraph (1)(A) and all other
amounts expended by the State Elections Commis-
sion of Puerto Rico for referenda pursuant to this
Act.
(b) GRANTS
FOR CONDUCTING REFERENDA
AND
VOTER
EDUCATION.—From amounts made available
under subsection (a)(1), the Government of Puerto Rico
shall make grants to the State Elections Commission of
Puerto Rico for referenda held pursuant to the terms of
this Act, as follows:
(1) 50 percent shall be available only for costs
of conducting the referenda.
(2) 50 percent shall be available only for voter
education funds for the central ruling body of the
political party, parties, or other qualifying entities
advocating a particular ballot choice. The amount al-
located for advocating a ballot choice under this
paragraph shall be apportioned equally among the
parties advocating that choice.
(c) 
ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES.—In 
addition 
to
amounts made available by this Act, the Puerto Rico Leg-
islature may allocate additional resources for administra-
tive and voter education costs to each party so long as
the distribution of funds is consistent with the apportion-
ment requirements of subsection (b).
Æ