I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 900 
To recognize Puerto Rico’s sovereign nationhood under either independence 
or free association and to provide for a transition process, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 7, 2017 
Mr. GUTIE´RREZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To recognize Puerto Rico’s sovereign nationhood under either 
independence or free association and to provide for a 
transition process, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) In order to ensure the legitimate interests 
of Puerto Rico and the United States, Congress 
should recognize Puerto Rico as a sovereign nation. 
(2) Consistent with article IV, section 3 of the 
Constitution, only Congress has the power to dispose 
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of and make all needful rules and regulations re-
specting Puerto Rico. 
(3) Puerto Rico’s territorial condition con-
stitutes an unsustainable status of political subordi-
nation. 
(4) Annexation of Puerto Rico as a State of the 
Union would be detrimental to both Puerto Rico and 
the United States. 
(5) A majority of the voters rejected the con-
tinuation of territorial status in the referendum on 
the political status of Puerto Rico held in Puerto 
Rico on November 6, 2012. 
(6) The people of Puerto Rico should, through 
participation in a referendum vote on the future sta-
tus of Puerto Rico, choose between independence or 
free association. 
(7) Congress should dispose of the territory of 
Puerto Rico, recognize its sovereign nationhood, and 
provide for an appropriate transition process to take 
place under independence or under a compact of free 
association with the United States, in harmony with 
the results of the vote expressed by the People of 
Puerto Rico in the referendum. 
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SEC. 2. REFERENDUM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Legislative Assembly of 
Puerto Rico shall provide for a referendum to take place 
in Puerto Rico, in which eligible voters shall express their 
preference between the non-territorial options of either 
independence or free association, as herein provided. 
(b) ELIGIBLE VOTERS.—An individual shall be eligi-
ble to vote in the referendum held under this Act if that 
individual— 
(1) was born in Puerto Rico; or 
(2) has a parent who was born in Puerto Rico. 
(c) INDEPENDENCE.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE TREATY.— 
The President shall negotiate a Treaty of Friendship 
and Cooperation and other bilateral agreements with 
the government of an independent Puerto Rico that 
will provide for equitable economic relations between 
both nations. 
(2) TREATY
OF
FRIENDSHIP
AND
COOPERA-
TION.—The Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation 
shall establish the details of the bilateral relations of 
Puerto Rico and the United States under the guide-
lines set forth below: 
(A) CITIZENSHIP.—Puerto Ricans shall be-
come citizens of the Republic of Puerto Rico. 
United States citizenship shall be guaranteed to 
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all Puerto Rican citizens who choose to retain 
their United States citizenship after the procla-
mation of Puerto Rico’s independence. Those 
born thereafter may acquire non-immigrant sta-
tus, dual or reciprocal United States citizenship 
as provided by law, or as otherwise agreed by 
treaty, so that their freedom to travel to and 
from the United States and to live and work 
there shall not be impaired. 
(B) VESTED RIGHTS.—Veterans benefits, 
Federal pensions, and full Social Security 
rights, as well as any other vested rights and 
benefits under the laws of the United States are 
hereby guaranteed to citizens of Puerto Rico 
until the normal expiration of such benefits; 
provided that all necessary agreements to pro-
tect the rights of workers who acquire perma-
nently insured status during 5 years following 
the proclamation of Puerto Rico’s independ-
ence, but are not yet beneficiaries under the 
Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance 
Benefits program under title II of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), shall be 
established; further provided that all contribu-
tions made by those who have not yet achieved 
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permanently insured status at the time of Puer-
to Rico’s independence shall then be trans-
ferred, with interest, to the government of 
Puerto Rico, in order to assist in the establish-
ment of a separate system of social insurance. 
(C) TRADE.—The United States shall 
eliminate trade barriers with Puerto Rico, pro-
vided that limitations on imports or exports 
agreed upon by both nations shall ensure mu-
tual benefits and assist each nation in meeting 
its trade and economic development objectives. 
(D) PUBLIC DEBT AND ECONOMIC TRANSI-
TION.—As partial indemnity for more than 118 
years of political and economic subordination, 
during which the total payment of interest 
earnings and dividends from Puerto Rico to 
United States corporations have far exceeded 
net transfers of Federal assistance to both the 
government and the residents of Puerto Rico, 
the United States shall enter into negotiations 
with Puerto Rico to restructure the outstanding 
debts and obligations of the government of the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its instru-
mentalities. Moreover, during a transition pe-
riod, an independent Puerto Rico shall receive 
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annual transfer block grants equal to the total 
amount of grants, programs, and services cur-
rently provided by the Federal Government in 
Puerto Rico, adjusted for inflation, for a period 
to be negotiated to take place immediately fol-
lowing the joint proclamation of Puerto Rico’s 
independence. 
(E) CURRENCY.—If so requested by Puer-
to Rico, both nations shall make the necessary 
arrangements with respect to the use of United 
States currency by the Republic of Puerto Rico. 
(F) DEFENSE.—The United States and 
the Republic of Puerto Rico shall enter into 
agreements leading to the complete demili-
tarization of the Republic of Puerto Rico, and 
the devolution and decontamination of any real 
estate previously held by any branch of the 
Armed Forces. 
(d) FREE ASSOCIATION.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION
TO
NEGOTIATE
COM-
PACT.—To provide a process consonant with the 
laws and policies of the United States and in accord-
ance with principles of international law, the Presi-
dent shall negotiate the terms for a Compact of Free 
Association with the government of Puerto Rico 
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which, prior to the territory’s recognition and procla-
mation of sovereignty, shall establish the terms of 
the association. 
(2) COMPACT
OF
FREE
ASSOCIATION.—The 
Compact of Free Association between the United 
States and Puerto Rico shall be submitted to Con-
gress and the People of Puerto Rico for ratification 
under the agreed guidelines set forth below: 
(A) PUERTO RICO AS SOVEREIGN STATE.— 
International legal personality of Puerto Rico 
as a sovereign state. 
(B) SELF-GOVERNMENT.—Full self-govern-
ment not subject to the Constitution or laws of 
the United States, except for those specific pow-
ers delegated to the United States and which 
are subject to revocation by Puerto Rico. 
(C) TERMINATION
OF
FREE
ASSOCIA-
TION.—The right of Puerto Rico and of the 
United States to unilaterally put an end to the 
relationship of free association and Puerto Rico 
becoming fully independent. 
(D) UNITED
STATES
CITIZENSHIP.—The 
continuation of United States citizenship for 
the citizens of Puerto Rico. 
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