IB
Union Calendar No. 106
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 856
[Report No. 105–131, Part I]
To provide a process leading to full self-government for Puerto Rico.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 27, 1997
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska (for himself, Mr. GINGRICH, Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO´,
Mr. GALLEGLY, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. KENNEDY
of Rhode Island, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. TAUZIN,
Mr. GREEN, Mr. MCCOLLUM, Mr. DEUTSCH, Mr. POMBO, Mr. PAYNE,
Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. JONES, Mr. STUMP, Mr. SAWYER, Mr. FAZIO of
California, Mr. SKEEN, Mr. DOOLEY of California, Mr. KILDEE, Ms.
NORTON, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Mr. KLINK, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. FARR of
California, Mr. WYNN, Mr. DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. HALL of Ohio, Ms.
JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr.
KUCINICH, Mr. BARCIA, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. TORRES, Mr. PALLONE, Mr.
PASCRELL, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Ms. PELOSI, Ms. CHRISTIAN-GREEN,
Mr. VENTO, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr. PICKETT, Mr. KIM, Mr. ROTH-
MAN, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mr. FORBES, Mr. THOMPSON, Mr.
HINOJOSA, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. OXLEY, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr.
TIERNEY, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. BISHOP, Mr. SAXTON, Mr. MILLER of
California, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. JOHN, Mr.
DELAY, Ms. SLAUGHTER, and Ms. SANCHEZ) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee 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 committee concerned
JUNE 12, 1997
Reported from the Committee on Resources with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
JUNE 12, 1997
Referral to the Committee on Rules extended for a period ending not later
than July 11, 1997
JULY 11, 1997
Additional sponsors: Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr.
OWENS, Mr. CLAY, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. HASTERT, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. OBER-
STAR, Mr. REYES, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. DICKEY, Mr. HOYER, Mr. HAN-
SEN, Mr. KIND, Mr. SNYDER, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. LAZIO of New York,
Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. BLUMENAUER, and Mr. GEPHARDT
JULY 11, 1997
The Committee on Rules discharged; referred to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 27, 1997]
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; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Policy.
Sec. 4. Process for Puerto Rican full self-government, including the initial
decision 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 recog-
nized the authority of Congress to provide for the po-
litical 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 Constitu-
tion (article IV, section 3, clause 2) to provide by sev-
eral statutes beginning in 1917, for the United States
citizenship status of persons born in Puerto Rico.
(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 con-
stitution. A local constitution was approved by the
people of Puerto Rico, conditionally approved by Con-
gress, subject to congressionally required amendment
by Puerto Rico, and thereupon given effect in 1952
after acceptance of congressional conditions by the
Puerto Rico Constitutional Convention and an appro-
priate proclamation by the Governor. The approved
constitution established the structure for constitu-
tional government in respect of internal affairs with-
out altering Puerto Rico’s fundamental political, so-
cial, and economic relationship with the United
States and without restricting the authority of Con-
gress under the Territorial Clause to determine the
application 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 sta-
tus 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 circula-
tion to its Members a formal notification that the
United States no longer would transmit information
regarding Puerto Rico to the United Nations pursu-
ant to Article 73(e) of its Charter. The formal United
States notification document informed the United Na-
tions that the cessation of information on Puerto Rico
was based on the ‘‘new constitutional arrangements’’
in the territory, and the United States expressly de-
fined the scope of the ‘‘full measure’’ of local self-gov-
ernment in Puerto Rico as extending to matters of
‘‘internal government and administration, subject
only to compliance with applicable provisions of the
Federal Constitution, the Puerto Rico Federal Rela-
tions Act and the acts of Congress authorizing and
approving the Constitution, as may be interpreted by
judicial decision.’’. Thereafter, the General Assembly
of the United Nations, based upon consent of the in-
habitants of the territory and the United States ex-
planation of the new status as approved by Congress,
adopted Resolution 748 (VIII) by a vote of 22 to 18
with 19 abstentions, thereby accepting the United
States determination 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 politi-
cal status options available to the people of territories
yet to complete the process for achieving full self-gov-
ernment, the three established forms of full self-govern-
ment are national independence, free association
based on separate sovereignty, or full integration 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; and in the 1982 case of
Rodriguez v. Popular Democratic Party (457 U.S. 1),
the Court confirmed that the Congress delegated pow-
ers of administration to the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico sufficient for it to function ‘‘like a State’’ and
as ‘‘an autonomous political entity’’ in respect of in-
ternal affairs and administration, pending further
disposition by Congress. These rulings constitute judi-
cial 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 unin-
corporated United States territory.
(8) In a joint letter dated January 17, 1989, co-
signed by the Governor of Puerto Rico in his capacity
as president of one of Puerto Rico’s principal politi-
cal parties and the presidents of the two other prin-
were: 48.6 percent for a commonwealth option, 46.3
percent statehood, and 4.4 percent independence.
(11) In a letter dated December 2, 1994, Presi-
dent William Jefferson Clinton informed leaders in
Congress that an Executive Branch Interagency
Working Group on Puerto Rico had been organized to
coordinate the review, development, and implementa-
tion of executive branch policy concerning issues af-
fecting Puerto Rico, including the November 1993
plebiscite.
(12) Under the Territorial Clause of the Con-
stitution, Congress has the authority and responsibil-
ity to determine Federal policy and clarify status is-
sues in order to resolve the issue of Puerto Rico’s final
status.
(13) On January 23, 1997, the Puerto Rico Leg-
islature enacted Concurrent Resolution 2, which re-
quested the 105th Congress ‘‘. . . to respond to the
democratic aspirations of the American citizens of
Puerto Rico’’ by approving legislation authorizing
‘‘. . . a plebiscite sponsored by the Federal Govern-
ment, to be held no later than 1998’’.
(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 stra-
tegic shipping lanes of the Atlantic Ocean and Carib-
bean Sea.
(15) Full self-government for Puerto Rico is at-
tainable only through establishment of a political sta-
tus which is based on either separate Puerto Rican
sovereignty and nationality or full and equal United
States nationality and citizenship through member-
ship in the Union and under which Puerto Rico is
no longer an unincorporated territory subject to the
plenary authority of Congress arising from the Terri-
torial 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 Fed-
eral Government to enable the people of the territory to free-
ly express their wishes regarding political status and
achieve full self-government, this Act is adopted with a com-
mitment to encourage the development and implementation
of procedures through which the permanent political status
of the people of Puerto Rico can be determined.
(b) LANGUAGE.—English shall be the common lan-
guage of mutual understanding in the United States, and
shall apply in all of the States duly and freely admitted
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 au-
thority to expand existing English language requirements
in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In the event that the
referenda held under this Act result in approval of sov-
ereignty leading to Statehood, it is anticipated that upon
accession to Statehood, English language requirements of
the Federal Government shall apply in Puerto Rico to the
same extent as Federal law 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 is authorized to be held not
later than December 31, 1998. The referendum shall be held
pursuant to this Act and in accordance with the applicable
provisions 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 ref-
erendum shall be on the approval of 1 of the 3 options pre-
sented 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 Common-
wealth structure for constitutional self-government
with respect to internal affairs and administration;
‘‘(2) Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory
of the United States, and the provisions of the Con-
stitution and laws of the United States, including
those provisions for rights, privileges, and immunities
of United States citizens, apply to Puerto Rico as de-
termined by Congress;
‘‘(3) persons born in Puerto Rico have statutory
United States nationality and citizenship as pre-
scribed by Congress;
‘‘(4) the qualified voters of Puerto Rico elect a
nonvoting Resident Commissioner to the United
States who serves in the House of Representatives;
‘‘(5) the levels of Federal benefits and taxes ex-
tended to the residents of Puerto Rico are established
by Federal law as deemed equitable by Congress;
‘‘(6) Puerto Rico uses the currency of the United
States, is within the United States customs territory
and defense system, and English language require-
ments of the Federal Government apply, as provided
by Federal law;
‘‘(7) the extension, continuation, modification,
and termination of Federal law and policy applicable
to Puerto Rico and its residents is within the discre-
tion of Congress; and
‘‘(8) the ultimate status of Puerto Rico will be
established through a process authorized by Congress
which includes self-determination by the residents of
Puerto Rico in periodic referenda.
‘‘B. SEPARATE SOVEREIGNTY.—If you agree, mark
here lll
‘‘The people of Puerto Rico should become fully self-
governing through separate sovereignty in the form of inde-
pendence or free association, in which—
‘‘(1) Puerto Rico is a sovereign Republic which
has full authority and responsibility over its territory
and population under a constitution which is the su-
preme law, providing for a republican form of govern-
ment and the protection of human rights;
‘‘(2) the Republic of Puerto Rico is a member of
the community of nations vested with full powers and
responsibilities for its own fiscal and monetary pol-
icy, immigration, trade, and the conduct in its own
name and right of relations with other nations and
international organizations;
‘‘(3) the people of Puerto Rico owe allegiance to
and have the nationality and citizenship of the Re-
public of Puerto Rico;
‘‘(4) The Constitution and laws of the United
States no longer apply in Puerto Rico, and United
States sovereignty in Puerto Rico is ended; thereupon
birth in Puerto Rico or relationship to persons with
statutory United States citizenship by birth in the
former territory shall cease to be a basis for United
States nationality or citizenship, except that persons
who had such United States citizenship have a statu-
tory right to retain United States nationality and
citizenship for life, by entitlement or election as pro-
vided by the United States Congress, based on contin-
ued allegiance to the United States: Provided, That
such persons will not have this statutory United
States nationality and citizenship status upon having
or maintaining allegiance, nationality, and citizen-
ship rights in any sovereign nation, including the Re-
public of Puerto Rico, other than the United States;
‘‘(5) The previously vested rights of individuals
in Puerto Rico to benefits based upon past services
rendered or contributions made to the United States
shall be honored by the United States as provided by
Federal law;
‘‘(6) Puerto Rico and the United States seek to
develop friendly and cooperative relations in matters
of mutual interest as agreed in treaties approved pur-
suant to their respective constitutional processes, and
laws including economic and programmatic assist-
ance at levels and for a reasonable period as provided
on a government-to-government basis, trade between
customs territories, transit of citizens in accordance
with immigration laws, and status of United States
military forces; and
‘‘(7) a free association relationship may be estab-
lished based on separate sovereign republic status as
defined above, but with such delegations of some gov-
ernment functions and other cooperative arrange-
ments as agreed to by both parties under a bilateral
pact terminable at will by either the United States or
Puerto Rico.
‘‘C. STATEHOOD.—If you agree, mark here lll
‘‘Puerto Rico should become fully self governing
through Statehood, in which—
‘‘(1) the people of Puerto Rico are fully self-gov-
erning with their rights secured under the United
States Constitution, which shall be fully applicable in
Puerto Rico and which, with the laws and treaties of
the United States, 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 per-
manent union with the United States, and powers not
delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor
prohibited by the Constitution to the States, are re-
served to the State of Puerto Rico or to the people;
‘‘(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) the people of Puerto Rico have equal rights,
privileges, immunities, and benefits as well as equal
duties and responsibilities of citizenship, including
payment of Federal taxes, as those in the several
States;
‘‘(5) Puerto Rico is represented by two members
in the United States Senate and is represented in the
House of Representatives proportionate to the popu-
lation;
‘‘(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 Government
of Puerto Rico certifying approval of a ballot choice
of full self-government in a referendum held pursuant
to subsection (a), the President shall develop and sub-
mit to Congress legislation for a transition plan of
not more than 10 years which leads to full self-gov-
ernment for Puerto Rico consistent with the terms of
this Act and the results of the referendum and in con-
sultation 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 re-
quired by this section, along with the views of the
President regarding the compatibility of such propos-
als and recommendations with the United States Con-
stitution and this Act, and identifying which, if any,
of such proposals and recommendations have been ad-
dressed in the President’s proposed transition 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 pro-
vided for in this Act—
(i) proposals and incentives to increase the
opportunities of the people of Puerto Rico to
learn to speak, read, write, and understand Eng-
lish 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 citi-
zens 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 preserva-
tion of our Nation’s unity in diversity and
the prevention 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
Hemispheric trade, and for citizens to enjoy
the full rights and benefits of their citizen-
ship;
(III) the promotion of efficiency and
fairness 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, edu-
cational, and occupational opportunities
through full integration with the United
States; and
(ii) the effective date upon which the Con-
stitution shall have the same force and effect in
Puerto Rico as in the several States, thereby per-
mitting the greatest degree of flexibility for the
phase-in of Federal programs and the develop-
ment of the economy through fiscal incentives,
alternative tax arrangements, and other meas-
ures.
(2) CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION.—The plan
shall be considered by the Congress in accordance
with section 6.
(3) PUERTO RICAN APPROVAL.—
(A) Not later than 180 days after enactment
of an Act pursuant to paragraph (1) providing
for the transition to full self-government for
Puerto Rico as approved in the initial decision
referendum held under subsection (a), a referen-
dum shall be held under the applicable provi-
sions of Puerto Rico’s electoral law on the ques-
tion 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.
(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 ap-
proved under subsection (b), the President shall sub-
mit to Congress a joint resolution with a rec-
ommendation for the date of termination of the tran-
sition and the date of implementation of full self-gov-
ernment for Puerto Rico within the transition period
consistent with the ballot choice approved under sub-
section (a).
(2) CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION.—The joint
resolution shall be considered by the Congress in ac-
cordance with section 6.
(3) PUERTO RICAN APPROVAL.—
(A) Within 180 days after enactment of the
terms of implementation for full self-government
for Puerto Rico, a referendum shall be held
under the applicable provisions of Puerto Rico’s
electoral laws on the question of the approval of
the terms of implementation for full self-govern-
ment 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.
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 require
United States citizenship and establish other statu-
tory requirements for voter eligibility of residents and
nonresidents.
(2) FEDERAL LAWS.—The Federal laws applica-
ble to the election of the Resident Commissioner of
Puerto Rico shall, as appropriate and consistent with
this Act, also apply to the referenda. Any reference in
such Federal laws to elections shall be considered, 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 cer-
tified 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 recommenda-
tions to the Congress within 180 days of receipt of the
results of the referendum regarding completion of the
self-determination process for Puerto Rico under the
authority of Congress.
(2) ADDITIONAL
REFERENDA.—To ensure that
the Congress is able on a continuing basis to exercise
its Territorial Clause powers with due regard for the
wishes of the people of Puerto Rico respecting resolu-
tion of Puerto Rico’s permanent future political sta-
tus, in the event that a referendum conducted under
section 4(a) does not result in a majority vote for sep-
arate sovereignty or statehood, there is authorized to
be further referenda in accordance with this Act, but
not less than once every 10 years.
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 leader
of the Senate (or his designee) shall each introduce legisla-
tion (by request) providing for the transition plan under
section 4(b) and the implementation recommendation 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 con-
sideration 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 re-
ported or been discharged from further consideration
of such legislation, it is in order after the legislation
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 legisla-
tion (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 intention to do so. All
points of order against the motion to proceed and
against consideration of that motion are waived. The
motion is highly privileged in the House of Represent-
atives and is privileged in the Senate and is not de-
batable. 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 recon-
sider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or dis-
agreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed
to the consideration of the legislation is agreed to, the
respective House shall immediately proceed to consid-
eration 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 di-
vided 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. Consideration of the legislation for
amendment shall not exceed 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 amend-
ments as may have been adopted. The previous ques-
tion shall be considered as ordered on the legislation
and amendments thereto to final passage without in-
tervening motion, except one motion to recommit with
or without instructions. A motion to reconsider the
vote on passage of the legislation shall not be in order.
(B) In the Senate, debate on the legislation, and
all amendments thereto and debatable motions and
appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to
not more than 25 hours. The time shall be equally di-
vided between, and controlled by, the majority leader
and the minority leader or their designees. No amend-
ment that is not germane to the provisions of such
legislation shall be received. A motion to further limit
debate is not debatable.
(3) Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relat-
ing to the application of the rules of the Senate or the
House of Representatives, as the case may be, to the
procedure relating to the legislation described in sub-
section (a) shall be decided without debate.
(d) CONSIDERATION BY OTHER HOUSE.—(1) If, before
the passage by one House of the legislation described in sub-
section (a) that was introduced in that House, that House
receives from the other House the legislation described in
subsection (a)—
(A) the legislation of the other House shall not
be referred to a committee and may not be considered