,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #dija  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,octob] #bi1 #bjai    
,mr4 ,s]rano 7= himself1 ,miss          
,gonzlez-,coln ( ,pu]to ,rico1 ,mr4 ,"y1
 ,mr4 ,bi%op ( ,utah1 ,mr4 ,soto1 ,mrs4 
,murphy ( ,florida1 ,mr4 ,gallego1 ,mr4 
,waltz1 ,ms4 ,plaskett1 ,mr4            
,diaz-,bal>t1 ,ms4 ,/efanik1 ,mr4 ,cri/1
 ,mr4 ,k+ ( ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,%alala1   
,mr4 ,bacon1 ,ms4 ,wass]man ,s*ultz1    
,mr4 ,fitzpatrick1 ,mrs4 ,radewag51 ,mr4
 ,swalwell ( ,cali=nia1 ,mr4 ,huffman1  
,mr4 ,posey1 ,mr4 ,cicill9e1 ,mr4       
,l[5?al1 ,mr4 ,v>gas1 ,mrs4             
,kirkpatrick1 ,mr4 ,katko1 ,mr4 ,banks1 
,mrs4 ,beatty1 ,mr4 ,sablan1 ,mr4 ,br[n 
( ,m>yl&1 ,mr4 ,lewis1 ,mr4 ,la,malfa1  
,mrs4 ,dem+s1 ,mr4 ,wilson ( ,s\?       
,c>ol9a1 ,mr4 ,san ,nicolas1 ,mr4 ,bi%op
 ( ,georgia1 ,mr4 ,c>bajal1 ,ms4        
,br[nley ( ,cali=nia1 ,mr4 ,fo/]1 ,mr4  
,bey]1 ,mr4 ,rask91 ,mr4 ,ha/+s1 ,ms4   
,wild1 ,mr4 ,pet]son1 & ,mr4 ,spano7    
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to

 ! ,committee on ,natural ,res\rces  ,a 
,,bill  ,to enable ! admission ( ,pu]to 
,rico z a ,/ate ( ! ,union1 & = o!r     
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,pu]to ,rico ,/atehood     
,admission ,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,!         
,congress f9ds ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,unit$   
,/ates national sov]eignty 9 ,pu]to     
,rico 0 e/abli%$ by ! ,treaty ( ,peace  
betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ! ,k+dom (     
,spa9 7#cj ,/at4 #aged71 sign$ on       
,decemb] #aj1 #ahih4  7#b7 ,pu]to ,rico 
is gov]n$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates "u laws    
enact$ by ,congress 9 ! ex]cise ( its   
p[] to make rules & regulations gov]n+  
t]ritory belong+ to ! ,unit$ ,/ates1    
pursuant to article ,,iv1 section #c1   
clause #b ( ! ,con/itution4  7#c7 ,=    
reasons ( prec$5t prim>ily relat$ to !  
,philipp9es also c$$ by ,spa9 aft] !    
,spani%-,am]ican ,w>1 sub/antially !    
same majority 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,supreme
 ,c\rt t e/abli%$ ! sep>ate b equal     
doctr9e 9 ,plessy v4 ,f]guson det]m9$ 9 
! #aija ,d[nes v4 ,bidwell decision t   

,pu]to ,rico 0 an un9corporat$ t]ritory 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 a /atus ( possession 
t cont9ues today4  7#d7 ,on ,m>* #b1    
#aiag1 ,congress grant$ bir?right       
citiz5%ip ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates by /atute = 
all p]sons born 9 ,pu]to ,rico 7#ci     
,/at4 #iea7 to fur!r integrate ,pu]to   
,rico into our ,nation4  7#e7 ,pu]to    
,rico has a t]ritorial con/itution t is 
republican 9 =m & compatible ) ! ,unit$ 
,/ates ,con/itution z well z ! pr9ciples
 ( ! ,decl>ation ( ,indep5d5ce1 & t is  
equival5t to a ,/ate con/itution1 hav+  
be5 democratically ratifi$ by ! ,unit$  
,/ates citiz5s ( ! t]ritory on ,novemb] 
#d1 #aieb1 & subsequ5tly approv$ by !   
,congress ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ?r\gh       
,public ,law #hb-ddg4  7#f7 ,?irty-two  
t]ritories previ\sly h petition$        
,congress = /atehood bas$ on            
democratically express$ cons5t ( !      
gov]n$1 & ea* 0 duly admitt$ z a ,/ate (
 ! ,union pursuant to article ,,iv1     
section #c1 clause #a ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
,con/itution1 ) equal rights &          

responsibilities ( national & ,/ate     
citiz5%ip "u ! ,unit$ ,/ates            
,con/itution4  7#g7 ,pu]to ,ricans h    
contribut$ greatly to ! ,nation & its   
culture & di/+ui%$ !mselves 9 e field ( 
endeavor4 ,h[ev]1 ! d5ial ( equal vot+  
repres5tation & equal treatm5t by !     
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t /&s 9 />k contra/ to _!
 contributions4  7#h7 ,s9ce becom+ a    
,unit$ ,/ates t]ritory1 m ?an #bce1jjj  
,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s ( ,pu]to ,rican   
h]itage h s]v$ 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates        
milit>y4  7#i7 ,?\s&s ( milit>y         
s]vicememb]s ( ,pu]to ,rican h]itage h  
receiv$ num]\s m$als1 di/9ctions1 &     
comm5dations ( e degree1 includ+ =      
valor\s milit>y s]vice 9 ! tw5tie? &    
tw5ty-fir/ c5turies4  7#aj7 ,n9e milit>y
 s]vicememb]s f ,pu]to ,rico h be5 aw>d$
 ! ,congressional ,m$al ( ,honor1 & _m h
 be5 aw>d$ ! ,di/+ui%$ ,s]vice ,cross or
 ! ,navy ,cross4  7#aa7 ,! #fe?         
,infantry ,regim5t 9 ,pu]to ,rico 7kn[n 
z ! ,bor9qu5e]s7 0 aw>d$ !              
,congressional ,gold ,m$al 7,public ,law

 #aac-abj1 enact$ ,june #aj1 #bjad7 =   
its contributions & sacrifices 9 ! arm$ 
conflicts ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+ ,_w
 ,w> ,i1 ,_w ,w> ,,ii1 & ! ,korean ,w>4 
7#ab7 ,un9corporat$ t]ritory /atus means
 t ,f$]al laws c be appli$ to ,pu]to    
,rico & its ,am]ican citiz5s diff]5tly1 
on unequal & ev5 inequitable t]ms1      
comp>$ n only to ! ,/ates & _! resid5ts1
 b also unlike t]ritories t 7 consid]$  
to be p>ts ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4 ,?is has  
limit$ ! developm5t ( ,pu]to ,rico &    
h9d]$ its economy4  7#ac7 ,un9corporat$ 
t]ritory /atus has result$ 9 millions ( 
resid5ts leav+ ,pu]to ,rico to seek     
great] opportunities & a bett] quality (
 life available 9 a ,/ate4              
,approximately #fe p]c5t ( all p (      
,pu]to ,rican orig9 n[ live 9 ! ,/ates1 
) ! increas+ rate ( population loss 9 ! 
t]ritory creat+ a sev]e /ra9 on ! local 
tax base & work=ce p>ticipation4  7#ad7 
,o!r ?an its un9corporat$ t]ritory /atus
 & its unequal treatm5t 9 "s laws1      
,pu]to ,rico is socially1 economically1 

politically1 & legally integrat$ into ! 
,nation4  7#ae7 ,pu]to ,rico has held   
two plebiscites "u local law on /atus   
proposals t are possible "u ,f$]al law 9
 #bjab & #bjag4 ,9 #bjab1 a majority ( !
 vote reject$ ! curr5t t]ritory /atus & 
#fa4b p]c5t *ose /atehood among !       
alt]natives4 ,9 #bjag1 #ig4a p]c5t ( !  
vote 0 = /atehood on a ballot am5d$ z   
advis$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,ju/ice4  7#af7 
,no ,unit$ ,/ates t]ritory t has        
petition$ = /atehood has be5 d5i$       
admission into ! ,union4  7#ag7         
,congress has recogniz$ ,pu]to ,rico's  
"r to det]m9e its future political /atus
 7,public ,law #aad-ahg1 enact$ ,june   
#bj1 #bjaf71 :i*1 consi/5t ) /atus votes
 9 mo/ t]ritories t h become ,/ates1 may
 include a ,yes or ,no vote on /atehood4
  7#ah7 ,congress has appropriat$ fund+ 
to ! ,/ate ,elections ,commission (     
,pu]to ,rico to conduct a plebiscite by 
:i* ,pu]to ,rican vot]s w det]m9e !     
future political /atus ( ,pu]to ,rico   
7,public ,law #aac-gf1 enact$ ,janu>y   

#ag1 #bjad74  7#ai7 ,grant+ equality    
?r\gh /atehood to ,pu]to ,rico is long  
ov]due 9 light ( ! hi/orical            
contributions ( its resid5ts to ! ,unit$
 ,/ates & its pot5tial to fur!r /r5g!n  
our ,union & ! #ajb ye>s ( political &  
economic discrim9ation aga9/ ! ,unit$   
,/ates citiz5s liv+ 9 ,pu]to ,rico4  #c4
 ,national policy decl>ation ,?is ,act  
con/itutes ! commitm5t ( ,congress t1 if
 ,pu]to ,rico *ooses /atehood1 subject  
to ! provisions /at$ h]e91 ,pu]to ,rico 
%all be decl>$ to be a ,/ate ( ! ,unit$ 
,/ates ( ,am]ica1 & %all be admitt$ into
 ! ,union on an equal foot+ ) ! o!r     
,/ates1 9 all respects1 s t ! ,unit$    
,/ates citiz5s resid+ 9 ,pu]to ,rico    
%all h all rights1 privileges1 & duties 
enjoy$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s 9 !   
sev]al ,/ates4  #d4 ,admission to ,union
 z ,/ate  7a7 ,democratic               
self-,det]m9ation ,9 accordance )       
applicable laws ( ,pu]to ,rico1 a       
political /atus plebiscite %all be      
conduct$ 9 conjunction ) ! local g5]al  

election s*$ul$ = ,novemb] #bjbj4  7b7  
,ballot ,! ballot = ! plebiscite        
conduct$ "u subsection 7a7 %all pres5t  
vot]s ) ! "q3 ,d y approve ,pu]to       
,rico's admission z a ,/ate ( ! ,union  
on equal foot+ ) all o!r ,/ates8 ,yes   
,no 44  7c7 ,c]tifi$ results ,if        
/atehood is approv$ by a majority ( !   
votes ca/ 9 ! plebiscite conduct$ "u    
subsection 7a71 ! ,presid5t ( ! ,/ate   
,elections ,commission ( ,pu]to ,rico   
%all c]tify ! results ( ! plebiscite &  
%all transmit ! c]tifi$ results ( !     
plebiscite to ! ,gov]nor )9 #c days4 ,n 
lat] ?an #aj days aft] ! date (         
c]tification1 ! ,gov]nor %all decl>e !  
results ( ! plebiscite & transmit !     
c]tifi$ results ( ! plebiscite to !     
,presid5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 ! ,presid5t
 pro tempore ( ! ,s5ate1 & ! ,speak] ( !
 ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4  7d7 ,cont5t (
 decl>ation ,! decl>ation by ! ,gov]nor 
9 subsection 7c7 %all designate &       
ann\nce ! dates & o!r requirem5ts =     
prim>y & g5]al elections "u applicable  

,f$]al & local law = repres5tation 9 !  
,s5ate & ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives 9    
accordance ) ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,9 ! fir/  
election ( ,s5ators1 ! two s5atorial    
(fices %all be sep>ately id5tifi$ &     
designat$1 & no p]son may be a c&idate =
 bo? (fices4 ,no?+ 9 ?is section %all   
impair ! privilege ( ! ,s5ate to det]m9e
 ! class & t]m to :i* ea* ( !           
,s5ators-elect %all be assign$4  7#b7 ,9
 ! fir/ election ( a ,repres5tative1    
,pu]to ,rico %all be entitl$ to "o      
,repres5tative ^u its admission into !  
,union z a ,/ate4 ,9 ! next election = !
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1 
,pu]to ,rico %all be entitl$ to ! same  
numb] ( ,repres5tatives z ! ,/ate ^: mo/
 rec5t ,c5sus population 0 close/ to1 b 
less ?an1 t ( ,pu]to ,rico1 & su*       
,repres5tatives %all be 9 addition to ! 
memb]%ip ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives z  
n[ prescrib$ by law3 ,provid$1 t any    
increase 9 ! memb]%ip %all n op]ate to  
ei!r increase or decrease ! p]man5t     
memb]%ip ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives z  

prescrib$ 9 ! ,act ( ,augu/ #h1 #aiaa   
7#cg ,/at4 #ac71 nor %all su* tempor>y  
increase affect ! basis ( apportionm5t  
e/abli%$ by ! ,act ( ,novemb] #ae1 #aida
 7#ee ,/at4 #gfa2 #b ,u4,s4,c4 #b;a71 = 
! ,eighty-?ird ,congress & ea* ,congress
 !reaft]1 unless ,congress acts to      
increase ! total numb] ( ! ,h\se (      
,repres5tatives4 ,!reaft]1 ! ,/ate (    
,pu]to ,rico %all be entitl$ to su*     
numb] ( ,repres5tatives z provid$ = by  
applicable law bas$ on ! next           
reapportionm5t4  7#c7 ,! ,presid5t ( !  
,/ate ,elections ,commission ( ,pu]to   
,rico %all c]tify ! results ( su* prim>y
 & g5]al elections1 & %all transmit !   
results ( ea* election to ! ,gov]nor )9 
#c days foll[+ su* prim>y & g5]al       
elections4 ,)9 #aj days ( ! date ( ea*  
c]tification1 ! ,gov]nor %all decl>e !  
results ( ! prim>y & g5]al elections1 & 
transmit ! results ( ea* election to !  
,presid5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 ! ,presid5t
 pro tempore ( ! ,s5ate1 & ! ,speak] ( !
 ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4  7e7          

,presid5tial proclamation ,^u receipt ( 
! ,gov]nor's decl>ation pursuant to     
subsection 7c71 ! ,presid5t ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates %all issue a proclamation decl>+ 
c]tifi$ results ( ! plebiscite & ! date 
,pu]to ,rico is admitt$ z a ,/ate ( !   
,union on an equal foot+ ) all o!r      
,/ates1 :i* date mu/ foll[ !            
c]tification ( results ( ! g5]al        
elections requir$ by ?is ,act1 b n lat] 
?an #cj mon?s f ! date on :i* !         
a=em5tion$ plebiscite results 7 c]tifi$4
 ,^u issuance ( ! proclamation by !     
,presid5t1 ,pu]to ,rico %all be deem$   
admitt$ into ! ,union z a ,/ate4  7f7   
,transition p]iod ,dur+ ! p]iod betwe5 !
 day on :i* vot]s h approv$ /atehood1 & 
! date ( admission z a ,/ate ( ! ,union1
 ! ,con/itution & laws ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 %all apply to ,pu]to ,rico z x appli$  
to ! #cb incorporat$ t]ritories t became
 ,/ates prior to admission to ! ,union4 
7g7 ,t]m9ation ( act if /atehood n      
approv$ ,if /atehood is n approv$ by a  
majority ( ! votes ca/ 9 ! plebiscite   

conduct$ "u subsection 7a71 ! provisions
 ( ?is ,act %all cease to be effective4 
#e4 ,provisions applicable to ,/ate (   
,pu]to ,rico ,^u ! admission ( ! ,/ate (
 ,pu]to ,rico into ! ,union1 ! foll[+   
%all apply3 7#a7 ,physical t]ritory     
def9$ ,! ,/ate ( ,pu]to ,rico %all      
consi/ ( all ( ! isl&s1 toge!r ) _!     
appurt5ant reefs1 seafloor1 & t]ritorial
 wat]s 9 ! seaw>d b\nd>y1 pres5tly "u ! 
jurisdiction ( ! t]ritory ( ,pu]to      
,rico4  7#b7 ,/ate con/itution ,!       
,con/itution ( ! ,commonweal? ( ,pu]to  
,rico1 z approv$ by ,public ,law #hb-ddg
 & subsequ5tly am5d$1 %all be accept$ z 
! ,/ate ,con/itution ( ,pu]to ,rico4    
7#c7 ,cont9uity ( laws ,all laws ( !    
,unit$ ,/ates & laws ( ,pu]to ,rico n 9 
conflict ) ?is ,act %all cont9ue 9 full 
=ce & effect foll[+ ! date ( admission (
 ,pu]to ,rico z a ,/ate ( ! ,union4     
7#d7 ,cont9uity ( gov]nm5t ,!           
individuals hold+ legislative1          
executive1 & judicial (fices ( ,pu]to   
,rico %all cont9ue to dis*>ge ! duties (

 _! respective (fices :5 ,pu]to ,rico   
becomes a ,/ate ( ! ,union4  7#e7       
,cont9uity ( obligations ,all contracts1
 obligations1 liabilities1 debts1 &     
claims ( ! ,commonweal? ( ,pu]to ,rico &
 its in/rum5talities %all cont9ue 9 full
 =ce & effect z ! contracts1            
obligations1 liabilities1 debts1 &      
claims ( ! ,/ate ( ,pu]to ,rico & its   
in/rum5talities4  #f4 ,repeals ,all     
,f$]al & t]ritorial laws1 rules1 &      
regulations applicable to ,pu]to ,rico t
 are incompatible ) ! political & legal 
/atus ( /atehood "u ! ,con/itution & !  
provisions ( ?is ,act are repeal$ &     
t]m9at$ z ( ! date ( /atehood admission 
proclaim$ by ! ,presid5t "u section     
#d7;e7 ( ?is ,act4 ,except = ^? p>ts t  
are n 9 conflict ) ?is ,act & !         
condition ( /atehood1 ! foll[+ %all be  
deem$ repeal$ ^u ! effective date ( !   
admission ( ,pu]to ,rico z a ,/ate3     
7#a7 ,! ,pu]to ,rican ,f$]al ,relations 
,act ( #aiej 7,public ,law #ha-fjj74    
7#b7 ,! ,act ( ,july #c1 #aiej 7#dh     

,u4,s4,c4 #gca;b-#gca;e74  7#c7 ,! ,act 
( ,m>* #b1 #aiag 7,public ,law #fd-cfh74
  7#d7 ,! ,act ( ,april #ab1 #aijj      
7,public ,law #ef-aia74  #g4            
,sev]ability ,if any provision ( ?is    
,act1 or any section1 subsection1       
s5t5ce1 clause1 phrase1 or individual   
^w1 or ! application !re( to any p]son  
or circum/ance is held invalid1 !       
validity ( ! rema9d] ( ! ,act & ( !     
application ( any su* provision1        
section1 subsection1 s5t5ce1 clause1    
phrase1 or individual ^w to o!r p]sons &
 circum/ances %all n be affect$ !reby4