,,ii  #aag? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #hfe  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #ah1 #bjba ,mr4   
,m55dez 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,s&]s1 ,mr4    
,br[n1 ,mr4 ,book]1 ,mrs4 ,gillibr&1    
,ms4 ,w>r51 ,mr4 ,m>key1 & ,mr4 ,wick]7 
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,en]gy
 & ,natural ,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  ,to   
recognize ! "r ( ! ,p ( ,pu]to ,rico to 
call a /atus conv5tion ?r\gh :i* ! p    
w\ld ex]cise _! natural "r to           
self-det]m9ation1 & to e/abli% a        
me*anism = congressional consid]ation ( 
su* decision1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4    
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,pu]to ,rico ,self-,det]m9ation ,act (  
#bjba4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds z     
foll[s3  7#a7 ,9 #ahih1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
defeat$ ! ,spani% ,k+dom 9 !            
,spani%-,am]ican ,w> & acquir$ by       
conque/ ,pu]to ,rico1 ,guam1 & !        
,philipp9es pursuant to ! ,treaty (     
,p>is4  7#b7 ,9 #aijj1 ,congress        
e/abli%$ a civilian gov]nm5t on ! isl&  

?r\gh ! ,=ak] ,act4 ,among o!r po9ts1 t 
,act e/abli%$ an executive c\ncil       
consi/+ ( v>i\s dep>tm5t heads & a      
presid5tially appo9t$ civilian gov]nor4 
7#c7 ,! ,=ak] ,act also e/abli%$ !      
,resid5t ,commission] position to       
repres5t isl& int]e/s 9 ,congress4 ,^!  
duties came to include nonvot+ s]vice 9 
! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4  7#d7 ,9     
#aija1 ! ,supreme ,c\rt's decisions 9   
,d[nes v4 ,bidwell & its prog5y held t =
 purposes ( ! ,con/itution's ,uni=mity  
,clause1 ,pu]to ,rico 0 n "p ( ! ,unit$ 
,/ates & subject to ! pl5>y p[]s (      
,congress1 :i* 9 turn e/abli%$ a        
colonial relation%ip4 ,ju/ice ,:ite1 9  
concurr5ce1 op9$ t ,congress has        
discretion to decide :e!r & :5 to       
incorporate a t]ritory into ! ,unit$    
,/ates4  7#e7 ,congress recogniz$ ,pu]to
 ,rico's au?ority ov] matt]s ( int]nal  
gov]nance 9 #aiej ) ! passage ( ! ,pu]to
 ,rico ,f$]al ,relations ,act ( #aiej   
7,public ,law #ha-fjj71 provid+ = a     
con/itutional gov]nm5t = ! isl& :i* 0   

adopt$ by ,congress z a compact = ! p ( 
,pu]to ,rico & ! subsequ5t ratification 
( ! isl&'s con/itution 9 ,july #aieb4   
7#f7 ,on ,novemb] #ah1 #aiec1 ! ,unit$  
,nations recogniz$ ,pu]to ,rico z a     
self-gov]n+ political entity "u ! ,unit$
 ,nations ,g5]al ,assembly ,resolution  
#gdh4  7#g7 ,! political /atus ( ,pu]to 
,rico is ( significant int]e/ to        
communities bo? on & (f ! isl&1 includ+ 
diaspora gr\ps t cont9ue hav+ /rong     
cultural ties & socioeconomic ties to   
,pu]to ,rico4  7#h7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates has
 a legal duty to comply ) ,article #a ( 
! ,int]national ,cov5ant on ,civil &    
,political ,rights1 :i* e/abli%es t all 
peoples h ! "r to self-det]m9ation & by 
virtue ( t "r !y freely det]m9e _!      
political /atus & freely pursue _!      
economic1 social & cultural developm5t4 
7#i7 ,! /atus conv5tion provides a      
delib]ative1 compreh5sive1 & un9t]rupt$ 
space ( dialogue t c def9e ! future (   
,pu]to ,rico4  #c4 ,pu]to ,rico /atus   
conv5tion  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! legislature (

 ,pu]to ,rico has ! inh]5t au?ority to  
call a /atus conv5tion ?r\gh an ,act or 
,concurr5t ,resolution1 con/itut$ by a  
numb] ( delegates to be det]m9$ 9       
accordance ) legislation approv$ by !   
,gov]nm5t ( ,pu]to ,rico1 = ! purpose ( 
propos+ to ! p ( ,pu]to ,rico           
self-det]m9ation options4 ,a /atus      
conv5tion call$ by ! legislature (      
,pu]to ,rico %all--  7#a7 be a          
semip]man5t body t is dissolv$ only :5 !
 ,unit$ ,/ates ratifies !               
self-det]m9ation option pres5t$ to      
,congress by ! /atus conv5tion z select$
 by ! p ( ,pu]to ,rico 9 ! ref]5dum "u  
section #e2 &  7#b7 consi/ ( delegates  
elect$ by ! vot]s ( ,pu]to ,rico 9 an   
election conduct$ accord+ to ! enabl+   
legislation = ! /atus conv5tion z       
approv$ by ! legislature ( ,pu]to ,rico4
  7b7 ,public f9anc+ ( delegate         
elections  7#a7 ,fund e/abli%$ ,!re is  
h]eby e/abli%$ 9 ! ,treasury ( ! ,unit$ 
,/ates a fund to be kn[n z ! ,pu]to     
,rico ,/atus ,conv5tion ,public ,mat*+  

,fund :i* %all be adm9i/]$ by ! ,pu]to  
,rico ,/ate ,commission on ,elections & 
subject to ov]sight by ! ,f$]al         
,election ,commission4 ,to ! ext5t      
am\nts are made available 9 ! fund = ?is
 purpose1 ! ,pu]to ,rico ,/ate          
,commission on ,elections %all di/ribute
 am\nts 9 ! fund su* t #d is di/ribut$  
to ea* c&idate = delegate = e #a t !    
c&idate receives z a campaign           
contribution t is-- 7,a7 less ?an #ajj2 
&  7,b7 donat$ by a resid5t ( ,pu]to    
,rico4  7#b7 ,requirem5ts = fund+ ,to be
 eligible to receive funds "u ?is       
subsection1 a c&idate = delegate %all-- 
7,a7 agree to increas$ f9ancial ov]sight
 f ! ,f$]al ,election ,commission2  7,b7
 limit campaign sp5d+ to n m ?an        
#be1jjj2 &  7,c7 demon/rate a basic     
level ( support f resid5ts ( ,pu]to     
,rico by receiv+ f resid5ts ( ,pu]to    
,rico n few] ?an #ej donations f #ej    
individuals ( n m ?an #ej4  7#c7        
,adm9i/rative am\nts ,n m ?an #aj p]c5t 
( am\nts made available "u p>agraph 7#d7

 may be use = adm9i/rative co/s ( !     
,f$]al ,election ,commission4  7#d7     
,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re is  
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ & deposit$   
into ! ,pu]to ,rico ,/atus ,conv5tion   
,public ,mat*+ ,fund to c>ry out ?is    
section #e1ejj1jjj4  7c7 ,delegates     
,delegates elect$ "u subsection 7a77#b71
 9 consultation ) ! ,commission1 %all-- 
7#a7 debate & draft def9itions on       
self-det]m9ation options = ,pu]to ,rico1
 :i* %all be outside ! ,t]ritorial      
,clause ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,con/itution2 
7#b7 draft a lea/ "o accompany+         
transition plan = ea* self-det]m9ation  
option2 &  7#c7 select & pres5t to ! p (
 ,pu]to ,rico ! self-det]m9ation options
 t w be includ$ 9 ! ref]5dum "u section 
#e4  #d4 ,congressional ,bilat]al       
,negotiat+ ,commission  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t 
,!re is e/abli%$ a ,congressional       
,bilat]al ,negotiat+ ,commission        
7h]e9aft] ref]r$ to z ! ,commission7 to 
provide advice & consultation to        
delegates elect$ "u section #c7;a77#b74 

7b7 ,composition  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!      
memb]s ( ! ,commission %all include--   
7,a7 ! *airs ( ! ,committee on ,natural 
,res\rces ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & 
! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural       
,res\rces ( ! ,s5ate2  7,b7 ! rank+     
memb]s ( ! ,committee on ,natural       
,res\rces ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & 
! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural       
,res\rces ( ! ,s5ate2  7,c7 "o memb]    
select$ by ! majority lead] ( ! ,h\se ( 
,repres5tatives2  7,d7 "o memb] select$ 
by ! m9ority lead] ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives2  7,e7 "o memb] select$ 
by ! majority lead] ( ! ,s5ate2  7,f7 "o
 memb] select$ by ! m9ority lead] ( !   
,s5ate2  7,g7 ! ,resid5t ,commission] ( 
,pu]to ,rico2  7,h7 ) ! cons5t ( !      
,speak] ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives &   
majority lead] ( ! ,s5ate1 a memb] f !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,ju/ice2 &  7,i7 ) ! cons5t 
( ! ,speak] ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives 
& majority lead] ( ! ,s5ate1 a memb] f !
 ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,int]ior4  7#b7          
,requirem5ts = c]ta9 memb]s ,memb]s     

select$ "u subp>agraphs 7,c7 ?r\gh 7,f7 
( p>agraph 7#a7 %all repres5t a ,/ate or
 di/rict 9 a ,/ate t1 z det]m9$ by ! mo/
 rec5tly publicly available data f !    
,bureau ( ! ,c5sus1 repres5ts "o ( ! #aj
 ,/ates ) ! l>ge/ population ( p :o     
id5tifi$ on ! mo/ rec5t ,c5sus z ,pu]to 
,rican4  7c7 ,duties & functions ,!     
,commission--  7#a7 %all meet           
p]iodically ) ! delegates 9 ,pu]to ,rico
 & ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia1 at ! reque/ (
 a majority ( ! delegates1 ) ea* meet+  
requir$ to include at lea/ "o delegate f
 ea* ( ! self-det]m9ation options2  7#b7
 %all h ! au?ority to--  7,a7 /udy2     
7,b7 make f9d+s2  7,c7 develop          
recomm5dations reg>d+ self-det]m9ation  
options on con/itutional issues &       
policies relat$ to-- 7i7 culture2  7ii7 
language2  7iii7 judicial & public      
education sy/ems2  7iv7 taxes2 &  7v7   
,unit$ ,/ates citiz5%ip2 &  7,d7 provide
 te*nical assi/ance & con/itutional     
advice to ! delegates dur+ ! ,pu]to     
,rico /atus conv5tion2  7#c7 may hold   

public he>+s 9 connection ) any aspects 
( ! conv5tion at ! reque/ ( ! delegates 
or on its own2 &  7#d7 may receive      
te/imony4  7d7 ,reports ,! ,commission  
%all--  7#a7 n less ?an qu>t]ly1 provide
 /atus reports1 f9d+s1 & /udies to !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate2     
7#b7 n less ?an once e #ab mon?s1 submit
 a /atus report to ! ,h\se (            
,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate2 &  7#c7 make
 reports submitt$ "u p>agraph 7#b7      
available to ! g5]al public 9 widely    
accessible =mats 9 ,engli% & ,spani% on 
! same day t su* reports are submitt$ "u
 p>agraph 7#b74  #e4 ,pu]to ,rico /atus 
ref]5dum2 education campaign  7a7       
,/ructure & process  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a   
ref]5dum vote by ! p ( ,pu]to ,rico--   
7,a7 may be conduct$ 9 a rank$-*oice    
vot+ =mat 9 :i* vot]s rank *oices by    
pref]5ce on _! ballots )\t a limit on ! 
numb] ( *oices rank$2  7,b7 may consi/ (
 *oices ea* compos$ ( a self-det]m9ation
 def9ition & accompany+ transition plan 
z pres5t$ by ! delegates "u section #c2 

&  7,c7 may include m ?an "o *oice ) !  
same self-det]m9ation def9ition1 b a    
di/9ct accompany+ transition plan z     
pres5t$ by ! delegates "u section #c4   
7#b7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re
 is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ ! ,pu]to 
,rico ,/ate ,commission on ,elections1  
#b1ejj1jjj to c>ry out a ref]5dum vote  
"u ?is subsection4  7b7 ,educational    
campaign  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,delegates %all 
c>ry out an educational campaign ?r\gh  
traditional paid m$ia relat$ to !       
ref]5dum "u subsection 7a74  7#b7       
,au?orization ( ,appropriations ,!re is 
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ ! ,pu]to     
,rico ,/ate ,commission on ,elections1  
#e1jjj1jjj to c>ry out an educational   
campaign "u ?is subsection4 ,! ,f$]al   
,election ,commission %all ensure t     
funds made available "u ?is p>agraph are
 divid$ equally among ea*               
self-det]m9ation option repres5t$ on !  
ref]5dum held "u ?is ,act4  7#c7        
,qu>t]ly campaign reports ,ea* delegates
 %all submit qu>t]ly campaign reports ( 

! educational campaigns to ! ,f$]al     
,election ,commission4  #f4             
,congressional delib]ation & enact+     
resolution ,if ! ref]5dum "u ?is ,act is
 approv$ by ! p ( ,pu]to ,rico1         
,congress %all approve a jo9t resolution
 to ratify ! pref]r$ self-det]m9ation   
option approv$ 9 t ref]5dum vote4 ,if ! 
,congress adj\rns s9e die be=e act+ on !
 self-det]m9ation option1 ! ,pu]to ,rico
 /atus conv5tion creat$ "u ?is ,act may 
meet aga9 & s5d or res5d a              
self-det]m9ation options to ! foll[+    
,congress4  #g4 ,jo9t resolution  7a7   
,def9ition ,! t]m jo9t resolution means 
a jo9t resolution t is introduc$ )9 !   
#aj-;day p]iod beg9n+ on ! date :5 !    
results ( ! ref]5dum are c]tifi$ by     
,pu]to ,rico's ,commission on           
,elections4  7b7 ,ref]ral ,a resolution 
describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 t is introduc$
 9 ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives %all be    
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,natural      
,res\rces & 9 ! ,s5ate %all be ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural      

,res\rces4  7c7 ,dis*>ge ,if ! committee
 to :i* a resolution describ$ 9         
subsection 7a7 is ref]r$ has n report$  
su* resolution 7or an id5tical          
resolution7 by ! end ( ! day p]iod      
beg9n+ on ! day ( c]tification (        
ref]5dum results %all be1 at ! end ( su*
 p]iod1 dis*>g$ f fur!r consid]ation (  
su* resolution1 & su* resolution %all be
 plac$ on ! appropriate cal5d> ( ! body 
involv$4  7d7 ,consid]ation  7#a7 ,on or
 aft] ! ?ird day aft] ! date on :i* !   
committee to :i* su* a resolution is    
ref]r$ has report$1 or has be5 dis*>g$  
7"u subsection 7c77 f fur!r consid]ation
 (1 su* a resolution1 x is 9 ord] 7ev5  
?\gh a previ\s motion to ! same effect  
has be5 disagre$ to7 = any ,memb] ( !   
respective body to move to proce$ to !  
consid]ation ( ! resolution4 ,a ,memb]  
may make ! motion only on ! day aft] !  
cal5d> day on :i* ! ,memb] ann\nces to !
 body conc]n$ ! ,memb]'s int5tion to    
make ! motion1 except t1 9 ! case ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1 ! motion may be

 made )\t su* prior ann\ncem5t if !     
motion is made by direction ( !         
committee to :i* ! resolution 0 ref]r$4 
,all po9ts ( ord] aga9/ ! resolution 7& 
aga9/ consid]ation ( ! resolution7 are  
waiv$4 ,! motion is highly privileg$ 9 !
 ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & is privileg$ 
9 ! ,s5ate & is n debatable4 ,! motion  
is n subject to am5dm5t1 or to a motion 
to po/pone1 or to a motion to proce$ to 
! consid]ation ( o!r bus9ess4 ,a motion 
to reconsid] ! vote by :i* ! motion is  
agre$ to or disagre$ to %all n be 9     
ord]4 ,if a motion to proce$ to !       
consid]ation ( ! resolution is agre$ to1
 ! respective body %all imm$iately      
proce$ to consid]ation ( ! jo9t         
resolution )\t int]v5+ motion1 ord]1 or 
o!r bus9ess1 & ! resolution %all rema9 !
 unf9i%$ bus9ess ( ! respective body    
until dispos$ (4  7#b7 ,debate on !     
resolution1 & on all debatable motions &
 appeals 9 connection !re)1 %all be     
limit$ to n m ?an #b h\rs1 :i* %all be  
divid$ equally betwe5 ^? favor+ & ^?    

oppos+ ! resolution4 ,an am5dm5t to !   
resolution is n 9 ord]4 ,a motion fur!r 
to limit debate is 9 ord] & n debatable4
 ,a motion to po/pone1 or a motion to   
proce$ to ! consid]ation ( o!r bus9ess1 
or a motion to recommit ! resolution is 
n 9 ord]4 ,a motion to reconsid] ! vote 
by :i* ! resolution is agre$ to or      
disagre$ to is n 9 ord]4  7#c7          
,imm$iately foll[+ ! conclusion ( !     
debate on a resolution describ$ 9       
subsection 7a7 & a s+le quorum call at !
 conclusion ( ! debate if reque/$ 9     
accordance ) ! rules ( ! appropriate    
body1 ! vote on f9al passage ( !        
resolution %all occur4  7#d7 ,appeals f 
! decisions ( ! ,*air relat+ to !       
application ( ! rules ( ! ,s5ate or !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1 z ! case may   
be1 to ! proc$ure relat+ to a resolution
 describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 %all be      
decid$ )\t debate4  7e7 ,consid]ation by
 o!r body ,if1 be=e ! passage by "o body
 ( a resolution ( t body describ$ 9     
subsection 7a71 t body receives f ! o!r 

body a resolution describ$ 9 subsection 
7a71 !n ! foll[+ proc$ures %all apply3  
7#a7 ,! resolution ( ! o!r body %all n  
be ref]r$ to a committee & may n be     
consid]$ 9 ! body receiv+ x except 9 !  
case ( f9al passage z provid$ 9         
subp>agraph 7,b77ii74  7#b7 ,) respect  
to a resolution describ$ 9 subsection   
7a7 ( ! body receiv+ ! resolution--     
7,a7 ! proc$ure 9 t body %all be ! same 
z if no resolution _h be5 receiv$ f !   
o!r body2 b  7,b7 ! vote on f9al passage
 %all be on ! resolution ( ! o!r body4