I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2499 
To provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people 
of Puerto Rico. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 19, 2009 
Mr. PIERLUISI (for himself, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. ARCURI, Mr. BAIRD, Ms. 
BERKLEY, Mr. BERMAN, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. BOUSTANY, Ms. CORRINE 
BROWN of Florida, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. BURTON of Indi-
ana, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CARDOZA, Mr. CASTLE, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. 
CONNOLLY of Virginia, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. COSTA, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. 
DELAHUNT, Mr. DENT, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. 
MARIO
DIAZ-BALART
of Florida, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. 
FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. FARR, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. FLAKE, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. 
GERLACH, Mr. GRAYSON, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. HARE, Mr. 
HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. HOYER, Ms. 
JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. 
KENNEDY, Mr. KILDEE, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. KLEIN of 
Florida, Mr. KRATOVIL, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, 
Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California, Mr. MACK, Mr. MAFFEI, Ms. 
MARKEY of Colorado, Mr. MASSA, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. 
MICA, Mr. MOLLOHAN, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Ms. NORTON, Mr. 
OLVER, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. PENCE, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. POLIS of Colo-
rado, Mr. PUTNAM, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. REYES, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Ms. ROS- 
LEHTINEN, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. SALAZAR, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of Cali-
fornia, Mr. SHULER, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. STARK, Mr. TAY-
LOR, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. TONKO, Mr. WALZ, Ms. 
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. WATSON, Mr. WATT, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. 
WESTMORELAND, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. WU, 
Mr. YARMUTH, and Mr. YOUNG of Alaska) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
06:43 May 21, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H2499.IH
H2499
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
A BILL 
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, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Puerto Rico Democ-
racy Act of 2009’’. 
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 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
06:43 May 21, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2499.IH
H2499
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
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 
authorized to conduct a plebiscite on the following 3 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. 
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 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
06:43 May 21, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2499.IH
H2499
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
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. 
(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. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
06:43 May 21, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2499.IH
H2499
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
(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-
dent of the United States and to the Members of the Sen-
ate and House of Representatives of the United States. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
06:43 May 21, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2499.IH
H2499
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS