IV
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 300
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the commonwealth option
presented in the Puerto Rican plebiscite of November 14, 1993.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 30, 1994
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska submitted the following concurrent resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the common-
wealth option presented in the Puerto Rican plebiscite
of November 14, 1993.
Whereas the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico enacted legislation to allow the people of Puerto
Rico to express, through a plebiscite, their preference re-
garding the nature of the future relationship between
Puerto Rico and the United States;
Whereas the plebiscite ballot contained the status options of
statehood, commonwealth, and independence, as defined
by the three principal political parties of Puerto Rico;
Whereas, in the plebiscite of November 14, 1993, 48.6 per-
cent of the people of Puerto Rico voted for common-
wealth status, 46.3 percent voted for statehood status,
and 4.4 percent voted for independence;
•HCON 300 IH
Whereas the commonwealth status option presented to the
Puerto Rican electorate on November 14, 1993, proposed
significant changes to the current relationship between
Puerto Rico and the United States, including—
(1) the execution of a bilateral pact between Puerto
Rico and the United States that would be unalterable,
except by mutual consent;
(2) permanent union between Puerto Rico and the
United States;
(3) the extension of supplemental security income
(SSI) under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1381 et seq.)) to citizens of Puerto Rico; and
(4) equality between Puerto Rico and the States re-
garding food stamp allocations under the Food Stamp
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
Whereas the commonwealth status option presented to the
Puerto Rican electorate on November 14, 1993, stated
that commonwealth status would guarantee—
(1) irrevocable United States citizenship;
(2) Puerto Rican fiscal autonomy; and
(3) a common market, common currency, and com-
mon defense with the United States;
Whereas the legislature of Puerto Rico passed a concurrent
resolution asking that the Congress make a statement
concerning the viability of the commonwealth ballot for-
mula presented to the people of Puerto Rico in the plebi-
scite of November 14, 1993;
•HCON 300 IH
Whereas the Congress holds great respect for Puerto Ricans
as citizens of the United States; and
Whereas it is incumbent upon the Congress to express the
sense of the Congress concerning the viability of the ele-
ments of the commonwealth formula proposed in the No-
vember 14, 1993, plebiscite: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the changes to the political relationship be-
tween Puerto Rico and the United States that are
described in the option of the Puerto Rico plebiscite
of November 14, 1993, known as the commonwealth
option would provide to United States citizens who
are residents of Puerto Rico the Federal benefits of
United States citizens living in the States without
the concomitant responsibilities;
(2) the commonwealth formula presented in the
Puerto Rican plebiscite of November 14, 1993, is
not an economically or politically viable alternative
to the current self-governing, unincorporated terri-
torial status of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
and
(3) the unalterable bilateral pact that such com-
monwealth formula proposes as the vehicle for the
permanent union of Puerto Rico with the United
States is not a constitutionally viable alternative to
•HCON 300 IH
the current self-governing, unincorporated territorial
status of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
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