,,ii  #aag? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ghj  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #af1 #bjba,mr4    
,he9ri* 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 
,wyd51 & ,mr4 ,s*atz7 introduc$ ! foll[+
 bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to !   
,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural         
,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  ,to provide = !   
admission ( ! ,/ate ( ,pu]to ,rico into 
! ,union4  #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 ( ,p>is   
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 ,aft] agree+ to 
indep5d5ce = ! ,philipp9es1 also acquir$
 ?r\gh ! ,spani%-,am]ican ,w>1 on ,m>*  
#b1 #aiag1 ,congress grant$ /atutory    
,unit$ ,/ates citiz5%ip to ! resid5ts ( 
,pu]to ,rico4 ,su* action has           
hi/orically l$ to incorporation &       
ev5tual /atehood b 0 d5i$ to ,pu]to     
,rico due to anomalies emanat+ f ! #aija
 ,d[nes rul+ & its prog5y1 ev5 z fell[  
,am]icans 9 ,hawaii & ,alaska atta9$    
/atehood4  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  
,am]ican citiz5s ( ,pu]to ,rican h]itage
 h s]v$ 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates milit>y4  7#i7
 ,?\s&s ( ,unit$ ,/ates milit>y s]vice  

memb]s ( ,pu]to ,rican h]itage h receiv$
 num]\s m$als1 di/9ctions1 &            
comm5dations ( e degree1 includ+ =      
valor\s milit>y s]vice 9 ! tw5tie? &    
tw5ty-fir/ c5turies4  7#aj7 ,n9e ,unit$ 
,/ates milit>y s]vice memb]s f ,pu]to   
,rico h be5 aw>d$ ! ,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$al 7,public ,law
 #aac-abj7 = its contributions &        
sacrifices 9 ! arm$ conflicts ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates1 includ+ ,_w ,w> ,i1 ,_w ,w>    
,,ii1 & ! ,korean ,w>4  7#ab7 ,to fur!r 
recognize & pay tribute to ! brav]y ( ! 
,pu]to ,rican soldi]s ( ! #fe? ,infantry
 ,regim5t1 ,congress express$ support = 
! designation ( ,april #ac z ,national  
,bor9qu5e]s ,day 9 ! ,national ,def5se  
,au?orization ,act = ,fiscal ,ye> #bjba 
7,public ,law #aaf-bhc74  7#ac7         
,un9corporat$ t]ritory /atus means t    
,f$]al laws c be appli$ to ,pu]to ,rico 

& its ,am]ican citiz5s diff]5tly1 on    
unequal &1 at times inequitable t]ms1   
comp>$ n only to ! ,/ates & _! resid5ts1
 b also unlike t]ritories t are p>ts ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates4 ,?is has limit$ !       
developm5t ( ,pu]to ,rico & h9d]$ its   
economy4  7#ad7 ,un9corporat$ t]ritory  
/atus has result$ 9 millions ( resid5ts 
leav+ ,pu]to ,rico to secure equal      
rights ( citiz5%ip atta9able only 9 a   
,/ate1 & t enable ,am]icans to seek     
great] opportunities & a bett] quality (
 life 9 ! ,/ates4 ,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#ae7 ,o!r ?an its      
un9corporat$ t]ritory /atus & its       
unequal treatm5t "u "s ,f$]al laws1     
,pu]to ,rico is socially1 economically1 
politically1 & legally integrat$ into ! 
nation4 ,num]\s t]ritories admitt$ z    
,/ates did n h z /rong a record (       
self-det]m9ation favor+ /atehood z !    

majority votes by ,am]ican citiz5s 9    
,pu]to ,rico favor+ admission to !      
,union4  7#af7 ,9 ,novemb] #bjab1 a     
majority ( vot]s reject$ cont9uation ( !
 curr5t t]ritory /atus1 & #fa4b p]c5t ( 
^? express+ a *oice on /atus alt]natives
 *ose /atehood4  7#ag7 ,9 ,june #bjag1 a
 vote 0 held to confirm ! aspirations ( 
! p ( ,pu]to ,rico4 ,z advis$ by !      
,unit$ ,/ates ,dep>tm5t ( ,ju/ice1 all  
available /atus options 7 includ$ 9 !   
ballot4 ,amid an opposition boycott1    
/atehood receiv$ #ig p]c5t ( ! votes    
ca/1 :ile indep5d5ce & ! curr5t /atus   
receiv$ less ?an #c p]c5t ( ! vote4     
7#ah7 ,9 ,novemb] #bjbj1 foll[+ ,alaska 
& ,hawaii prec$5t1 ,pu]to ,rico vot]s 7 
pres5t$ ) ! "q3 ,%\ld ,pu]to ,rico be   
admitt$ imm$iately into ! ,union z a    
,/ate8 ,yes or ,no4 ,a cle> majority (  
#eb4eb p]c5t vot$ 9 ! affirmative4      
7#ai7 ,9 ,decemb] #bjbj1 ! ,pu]to ,rico 
legislature1 foll[+ ! absolute majority 
victory obta9$ by /atehood 9 !          
plebiscite1 approv$ a ,jo9t ,resolution 

petition+1 on behalf ( ! ,p ( ,pu]to    
,rico1 t ,congress & ! ,presid5t ( !    
,unit$ ,/ates admit ,pu]to ,rico into ! 
,union z a ,/ate & appo9t$ (ficial      
repres5tatives to manage ! transition to
 /atehood4  7#bj7 ,no l>ge & popul\s    
,unit$ ,/ates t]ritory inhabit$ by      
,am]ican citiz5s t has petition$ =      
/atehood has be5 d5i$ admission into !  
,union4  #c4 ,admission ,subject to !   
provisions ( ?is ,act1 & ^u issuance ( !
 proclamation requir$ by section #g7;c71
 ! ,commonweal? ( ,pu]to ,rico is h]eby 
decl>$ to be a ,/ate ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates (
 ,am]ica1 & z su* %all be decl>$ admitt$
 into ! ,union on an equal foot+ ) ! o!r
 ,/ates 9 all respects4  #d4 ,physical  
t]ritory ,! ,/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  #e4 ,con/itution ,! con/itution 
( ! ,/ate ( ,pu]to ,rico %all always be 
republican 9 =m & %all n be repugnant to

 ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & !   
pr9ciples ( ! ,decl>ation ( ,indep5d5ce4
 ,! con/itution ( ! ,commonweal? (      
,pu]to ,rico1 z approv$ by ,public ,law 
#hb-ddg & subsequ5tly am5d$1 is h]eby   
f\nd to be republican 9 =m & 9 con=mity 
) ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & !  
pr9ciples ( ! ,decl>ation ( ,indep5d5ce1
 & is h]eby accept$1 ratifi$1 & confirm$
 z ! con/itution ( said ,/ate4  #f4     
,c]tification by ,presid5t ,^u enactm5t 
( ?is ,act1 ! ,presid5t ( ! ,unit$      
,/ates %all c]tify su* fact to !        
,gov]nor ( ,pu]to ,rico4 ,!reupon !     
,gov]nor %all1 )9 #cj days aft] receipt 
( ! (ficial notification ( su* approval1
 issue a proclamation = ! election (    
,s5ators & ,repres5tatives 9 ,congress4 
#g4 ,ratification vote  7a7             
,ratification ( ,proposition ,at an     
election designat$ by proclamation ( !  
,gov]nor ( ,pu]to ,rico1 :i* may be ei!r
 ! prim>y or ! g5]al election held      
pursuant to section #h1 or a t]ritorial 
g5]al election1 or a special election1  

!re %all be submitt$ to vot]s1 =        
adoption or rejection1 a ballot ) !     
foll[+ ratification "q3 ,%all ,pu]to    
,rico imm$iately be admitt$ into !      
,union z a ,/ate1 9 accordance ) t]ms   
prescrib$ 9 ! ,act ( ,congress approv$  
44444444444 7date ( approval ( ?is      
,act783 ,yes  ,no 44  7b7 ,c]tifi$      
,results ,if ! =ego+ proposition is     
adopt$ by a majority ( ! votes ca/ 9 !  
election conduct$ "u subsection 7a71 !  
,presid5t ( ! ,/ate ,elections          
,commission ( ,pu]to ,rico %all c]tify !
 results ( ! election & %all transmit ! 
c]tifi$ results ( ! election to !       
,gov]nor4 ,n lat] ?an #aj days aft] !   
date ( c]tification1 ! ,gov]nor %all    
decl>e ! results ( ! election & transmit
 ! c]tifi$ results ( ! submission to !  
,presid5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 ! ,presid5t
 pro tempore ( ! ,s5ate1 & ! ,speak] ( !
 ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4  7c7          
,presid5tial ,proclamation ,^u receipt (
 ! ,gov]nor's decl>ation pursuant to    
subsection 7b71 ! ,presid5t ( ! ,unit$  

,/ates %all issue a proclamation decl>+ 
c]tifi$ ! results ( ! submission & !    
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 section #f ( ?is   
,act1 b n lat] ?an #ab mon?s f ! date on
 :i* ! a=em5tion$ submission results 7  
c]tifi$ 9 ord] to facilitate a          
transition process4 ,^u issuance ( !    
proclamation by ! ,presid5t1 ,pu]to     
,rico %all be deem$ admitt$ into !      
,union z a ,/ate4  7d7 ,t]m9ation ( ,act
 if ,proposition ,n ,adopt$ ,if ! =ego+ 
proposition is n adopt$ by a majority   
votes ca/ 9 ! election conduct$ "u      
subsection 7a71 ! provisions ( ?is ,act 
%all cease to be effective4  #h4        
,election ( (fic]s _/ submission (      
proposition ,! proclamation by !        
,gov]nor 9 section #f %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$4  7#b7 ,9
 ! fir/ election ( ,repres5tatives      
foll[+ admission1 & subsequ5t elections 
until ! next ,c5sus-bas$ reapportionm5t 
cycle1 ,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$1 t any su*
 increase 9 ! memb]%ip %all n op]ate to 
ei!r increase or decrease ! p]man5t     
memb]%ip ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives z  
prescrib$ 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] ( memb]s ( !     
,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 ,! apportionm5t (       
congressional di/ricts = ! fir/ election
 & subsequ5t election ( ,repres5tatives 
%all be conduct$ z provid$ = by !       
,con/itution & laws ( ,pu]to ,rico4     
7#c7 ,! ,presid5t ( ! ,/ate ,elections  
,commission ( ,pu]to ,rico %all c]tify !
 results ( su* prim>y & g5]al elections 
to ! ,gov]nor4 ,)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    
#i4 ,cont9uity ( laws1 gov]nm5t1 &      

obligations ,^u ! admission ( ! ,/ate ( 
,pu]to ,rico into ! ,union1 ! foll[+    
%all apply3 7#a7 ,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#b7 ,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#c7 ,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    
7#d7 ,title to ,prop]ty ,! ,/ate (      
,pu]to ,rico & its political            
subdivisions1 z ! case may be1 %all h & 
reta9 title to all l&s & o!r prop]ties1 

real & p]sonal1 ov] :i* ! t]ritory & its
 subdivisions pres5tly hold title4 ,!   
,unit$ ,/ates %all reta9 title to all   
prop]ty1 real & p]sonal1 to :i* x       
pres5tly has title1 includ+ public l&s4 
#aj4 ,repeals ,all ,f$]al & t]ritorial  
laws1 rules1 & regulations1 or p>ts (   
,f$]al & t]ritorial laws1 rules1 &      
regulations1 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     
#g7;c7 ( ?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  #aa4 ,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 invalid by a c\rt ( 
jurisdiction1 ! 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