f,i,i  #aahth ,,congress  #ast ,session 
,s4 #bidd  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,september #bg 
7legislative day1 ,september #bb71      
#bjbc,mr4 ,wicker introduced the        
following bill2 which was read twice and
 referred to the ,committee on ,energy  
and ,natural ,resources  ,a ,,bill  ,to 
enable the people of the ,commonwealth  
of ,puerto ,rico to determine the       
political status of the ,commonwealth of
 ,puerto ,rico1 and for other purposes4 
#a4 ,short title2 table of contents  7a7
 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as
 the ,puerto ,rico ,status ,act 4  7b7  
,table of contents ,the table of        
contents for this ,act is as follows3   
,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of        
contents4,sec4 #b4 ,findings4,sec4 #c4  
,definitions4,,title                    
,i--,plebiscites,sec4 #aja4 ,initial    
plebiscite2 runoff plebiscite4,sec4     
#ajb4 ,nonpartisan voter education      
campaign4,sec4 #ajc4 ,oversight4,sec4   
#ajd4 ,funds for voter education1       

plebiscites4,,title ,,ii--,transition   
and implementation of independence      
status ,sec4 #bja4 ,definitions4,sec4   
#bjb4 ,constitutional convention4,sec4  
#bjc4 ,character of the                 
constitution4,sec4 #bjd4 ,submission2   
ratification4,sec4 #bje4 ,election of   
officers4,sec4 #bjf4 ,conforming        
amendments to existing law4,sec4 #bjg4  
,joint ,transition ,commission4,sec4    
#bjh4 ,proclamation by ,president4,sec4 
#bji4 ,legal and constitutional         
provisions4,sec4 #baj4 ,judicial        
pronouncements4,sec4 #baa4 ,citizenship 
and immigration laws after ,puerto      
,rican independence4,sec4 #bab4         
,individual rights to economic benefits 
and grants4,,title ,,iii--,transition   
and implementation of sovereignty in    
free association with the ,united       
,states option,sec4 #cja4               
,definitions4,sec4 #cjb4 ,constitutional
 convention4,sec4 #cjc4 ,character of   
the constitution4,sec4 #cjd4            
,submission2 ratification4,sec4 #cje4   

,election of officers4,sec4 #cjf4       
,conforming amendments to existing      
law4,sec4 #cjg4 ,proclamation by        
,president2 head of state of the nation 
,puerto ,rico4,sec4 #cjh4 ,legal and    
constitutional provisions4,sec4 #cji4   
,judicial pronouncements4,sec4 #caj4    
,citizenship and immigration laws after 
sovereignty through free                
association4,sec4 #caa4 ,bilateral      
,negotiating ,commission4,sec4 #cab4    
,articles of free association approval1 
effective date1 and termination4,sec4   
#cac4 ,individual rights to economic    
benefits and grants4,,title             
,,iv--,transition and implementation of 
statehood status,sec4 #dja4             
,definitions4,sec4 #djb4 ,puerto ,rico  
readiness for statehood2 ,presidential  
proclamation2 admission into the ,union 
of the ,united ,states4,sec4 #djc4      
,conforming amendments to existing      
law4,sec4 #djd4 ,territory and          
boundaries4,sec4 #dje4                  
,constitution4,sec4 #djf4 ,elections of 

,senators and ,representatives2         
certification2 jurisdiction4,sec4 #djg4 
,state title to land and property4,sec4 
#djh4 ,continuity of laws1 government1  
and obligations4,sec4 #dji4 ,judicial   
pronouncements4,,title ,v--,transition  
and implementation of commonwealth      
status,sec4 #eja4 ,bilateral            
,negotiating ,commission4,sec4 #ejb4    
,approval2 effective date4,,title       
,,vi--,miscellaneous,sec4 #fja4         
,application of ,puerto ,rico           
,oversight1 ,management1 and ,economic  
,stability ,act4,sec4 #fjb4             
,severability4  #b4 ,findings ,congress 
finds that-- 7#a7 in #ahih1 the ,united 
,states gained possession of ,puerto    
,rico following the ,spanish-,american  
,war2  7#b7 ,spain formally ceded       
,puerto ,rico to the ,united ,states of 
,america under the ,treaty of ,peace    
between the ,united ,states of ,america 
and the ,kingdom of ,spain1 signed at   
,paris on ,december #aj1 #ahih 7#cj     
,stat4 #aged72  7#c7 after a brief      

period of military rule1 the ,act of    
,april #ab1 #aijj 7commonly known as the
 ,foraker ,act7 7#ca ,stat4 #gg1 chapter
 #aia71 was enacted to establish a civil
 government in ,puerto ,rico1 which--   
7,a7 provided for-- 7i7 an executive    
branch headed by a ,governor and an     
executive council1 to be appointed by   
the ,president1 with the advice and     
consent of the ,senate2 and  7ii7 a     
house of delegates1 to be elected by    
qualified voters of ,puerto ,rico2 and  
7,b7 was replaced in #aiag by a new     
organic ,act for ,puerto1 the ,act of   
,march #b1 #aiag 7commonly known as the 
,jones-,shafroth ,act7 7#ci ,stat4 #iea1
 chapter #ade71 which-- 7i7 established 
an elected ,senate2  7ii7 provided a    
bill of rights2  7iii7 provided ,united 
,states citizenship to the people of    
,puerto ,rico2 and  7iv7 in #aidg1 was  
amended to give qualified voters of     
,puerto ,rico the right to elect a      
,governor2  7#d7 in #aiej1 ,congress    
enacted the ,act of ,july #c1 #aiej     

7commonly known as the ,puerto ,rico    
,federal ,relations ,act of #aiej7 7#fd 
,stat4 #cai1 chapter #ddf71 which-- 7,a7
 established that1 fully recognizing the
 principle of government by consent1 the
 law was adopted in the nature of a     
compact so that the people of ,puerto   
,rico may organize a government pursuant
 to a constitution of their own         
adoption2 and  7,b7 on approval by the  
qualified voters of ,puerto ,rico in a  
referendum1 authorized the ,puerto ,rico
 legislature to call a constitutional   
convention to draft a constitution for  
,puerto ,rico2  7#e7 in a popular       
referendum held on ,june #d1 #aiea1     
#gf4e percent of the voters in ,puerto  
,rico voted in favor of drafting a      
constitution for ,puerto ,rico2  7#f7   
during the period beginning on          
,september #ag1 #aiea1 and ending on    
,february #f1 #aieb1 a constitutional   
convention was held in ,puerto ,rico2   
7#g7 the constitution of the            
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico produced 

by the constitutional convention was    
submitted to the people of ,puerto      
,rico1 who approved the constitution    
with #ha4i percent of the vote in a     
referendum held on ,march #c1 #aieb2    
7#h7 after receiving the constitution of
 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the
 ,president-- 7,a7 declared that the    
constitution of the ,commonwealth of    
,puerto ,rico-- 7i7 conformed fully with
 the applicable provisions of-- 7,i7 the
 ,act of ,july #c1 #aiej 7commonly known
 as the ,puerto ,rico ,federal          
,relations ,act of #aiej7 7#fd ,stat4   
#cai1 chapter #ddf72 and  7,,ii7 the    
,constitution of the ,united ,states2   
7ii7 contained a bill of rights2 and    
7iii7 provided for a republican form of 
government2 and  7,b7 transmitted the   
constitution of the ,commonwealth of    
,puerto ,rico to ,congress for approval2
  7#i7 after receiving the constitution 
of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico   
from the ,president1 ,congress-- 7,a7   
considered the constitution of the      

,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico2  7,b7   
found the constitution of the           
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico to       
conform to the applicable requirements2 
and  7,c7 with the approval of the      
,joint ,resolution of ,july #c1 #aieb   
7#ff ,stat4 #cbg1 chapter #efg71        
conditionally approved the constitution 
of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico2  
7#aj7 under ,resolution number #cd of   
the constitutional convention of ,puerto
 ,rico1 the constitutional convention of
 ,puerto ,rico accepted the conditions  
of ,congress in the name of the people  
of ,puerto ,rico2  7#aa7 the ,governor  
of ,puerto ,rico subsequently issued a  
formal proclamation accepting the       
conditions of ,congress on the          
constitution of the ,commonwealth of    
,puerto ,rico2  7#ab7 the constitution  
of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico-- 
7,a7 was subsequently amended by the    
constitutional convention2 and  7,b7    
became effective on ,july #be1 #aieb2   
7#ac7 the amendments to the constitution

 of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico  
were ratified by the people of the      
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 with    
#hg4h percent of voters approving the   
constitution of the ,commonwealth of    
,puerto ,rico in a referendum held on   
,november #d1 #aieb2  7#ad7 the ,united 
,states informed the ,united ,nations   
that1 because the ,commonwealth of      
,puerto ,rico had become a              
self-governing jurisdiction1 the ,united
 ,states would cease reporting on       
conditions in the ,commonwealth of      
,puerto ,rico under article #gc of the  
,united ,nations ,charter1 which        
requires reports from member states     
responsible for the administration of   
territories whose people have not yet   
attained the full measure of            
self-government42  7#ae7 in response to 
the ,united ,states1 the ,united        
,nations ,general ,assembly acknowledged
 in ,united ,nations ,general ,assembly 
,resolution #gdh 7#aiec7 that the people
 of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 

by expressing their will in a free and  
democratic way1 have achieved a new     
constitutional status and have          
effectively exercised their right to    
self-determination2  7#af7 to           
bilaterally address the issue of ,puerto
 ,rico self-determination1 ,public ,law 
#hh-bga 7#gh ,stat4 #ag7 established the
 ,united ,states-,puerto ,rico          
,commission on the ,status of ,puerto   
,rico1 composed of-- 7,a7 #g members    
from the ,united ,states1 of whom-- 7i7 
#c members were to be appointed by the  
,president2  7ii7 #b members were to be 
members of the ,senate1 appointed by the
 ,president of the ,senate with the     
approval of the majority and minority   
leaders of the ,senate2 and  7iii7 #b   
members were to be members of the ,house
 of ,representatives appointed by the   
,speaker of the ,house of               
,representatives1 with the approval of  
the majority and minority leaders of the
 ,house of ,representatives2 and  7,b7  
#f members were to be from the          

,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico2  7#ag7  
in the report entitled ,report of the   
,united ,states-,puerto ,rico           
,commission on the ,status of ,puerto   
,rico and dated ,august #aiff1 the      
,united ,states-,puerto ,rico           
,commission on the ,status of ,puerto   
,rico found that-- 7,a7 all three forms 
of political status--the ,commonwealth1 
,statehood1 and ,independence--are valid
 and confer upon the people of ,puerto  
,rico equal dignity with equality of    
status and national citizenship42 and   
7,b7 it is inconceivable that either the
 ,united ,states or ,puerto ,rico would1
 by an act of unilateral revocation1    
undermine the very foundation of their  
common progress3 the fundamental        
political and economic relationships    
which were established on the basis of  
mutuality42  7#ah7 pursuant to the      
findings and recommendations of the     
,united ,states-,puerto ,rico           
,commission on the ,status of ,puerto   
,rico1 the ,puerto ,rico legislature    

enacted the ,act of ,december #bc1 #aiff
 7,puerto ,rico ,act ,no4 #a71 which    
called for a plebiscite on the status of
 ,puerto ,rico2  7#ai7 in the ,july #bc1
 #aifg1 plebiscite-- 7,a7 #fj4d percent 
of voters in the ,commonwealth of       
,puerto ,rico voted for commonwealth    
status2  7,b7 #ci percent of voters in  
the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico voted
 for statehood2 and  7,c7 #j4f percent  
of voters in the ,commonwealth of       
,puerto ,rico voted for independence2   
7#bj7 in #aihi1 on the joint request of 
the pro-,commonwealth ,governor of      
,puerto ,rico and the presidents of the 
pro-statehood and pro-independence      
parties1 the ,senate took up the issue  
of ,puerto ,rico self-determination     
through ,s4 #gab 7#ajast ,congress7 and 
,s4 #bdd 7#ajbnd ,congress71 which      
recognized that ,commonwealth1          
statehood1 and independence were valid  
options for the status of ,puerto ,rico2
  7#ba7 the failure of the #aihi effort 
with respect to statehood and the coming

 to power in the ,commonwealth of       
,puerto ,rico of a pro-statehood        
government in #aiib1 #aiif1 #bjjh1 and  
#bjaf prompted a string of locally      
legislated referenda1 with each         
subsequent referendum increasingly      
deviating from ,federal policy1         
particularly with respect to an effort  
to undermine the commonwealth status to 
the benefit of statehood2  7#bb7 the    
first referendum was held in #aiic1     
allowing each of the political parties  
to provide the definition of the        
particular status option1 under which-- 
7,a7 #dh4f percent of voters in the     
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico voted for
 commonwealth status2  7,b7 #df4c       
percent of voters in the ,commonwealth  
of ,puerto ,rico voted for statehood2   
and  7,c7 #d4d percent of voters in the 
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico voted for
 independence2  7#bc7 during a second   
referendum held in #aiih-- 7,a7 the     
pro-statehood government-- 7i7 drafted  
the ballot language for all status      

options2 and  7ii7 identified each      
status option by number rather than by  
name2  7,b7 in protest for what the     
pro-,commonwealth party considered to be
 an ill-defined ,commonwealth option1   
the pro-,commonwealth party asked       
supporters to vote for none of the      
above2 and  7,c7 the results of the     
referendum were that-- 7i7 #ej4c percent
 of voters in the ,commonwealth of      
,puerto ,rico voted for none of the     
above2  7ii7 #df4e percent of voters in 
the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico voted
 for statehood2  7iii7 #b4e percent of  
voters in the ,commonwealth of ,puerto  
,rico voted for independence2 and  7iv7 
#j4c percent of voters in the           
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico voted for
 free association2  7#bd7 on ,may #bi1  
#bjji1 pro-statehood ,resident          
,commissioner ,pedro ,pierluisi         
introduced a bill in the ,house of      
,representatives1 ,h4,r4 #bdii 7#aaath  
,congress71 which provided for-- 7,a7 a 
#b-round vote on the status of the      

,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico that     
provided for a first vote to continue to
 have its present form of political     
status or for a different political     
status2 and  7,b7 if the different      
political status option received the    
most votes during the first vote1 a     
second vote with the options of-- 7i7   
independence2  7ii7 sovereignty in      
association with the ,united ,states2   
and  7iii7 statehood2  7#be7 an         
amendment to ,h4,r4 #bdii 7#aaath       
,congress7 was approved by the ,house of
 ,representatives on ,april #bi1 #bjaj1 
to include the ,commonwealth option on  
the second vote1 with the proponent of  
the amendment stating that ,puerto      
,ricans' views should be given equal and
 fair consideration42  7#bf7 ,h4,r4     
#bdii 7#aaath ,congress71 as amended1   
was approved by the ,house of           
,representatives1 but was not considered
 in the ,senate2  7#bg7 in ,april #bjaa1
 the ,white ,house published a report of
 the ,task ,force on ,puerto ,rico      

,status that found that-- 7,a7 the      
permissible status options for the      
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico include--
 7i7 statehood2  7ii7 independence2     
7iii7 free association2 and  7iv7       
commonwealth status2 and  7,b7 removing 
the ,commonwealth option would raise    
real questions about the vote's         
legitimacy2  7#bh7 ignoring the         
amendment to ,h4,r4 #bdii 7#aaath       
,congress7 described in paragraph 7#be71
 the pro-statehood government called for
 a locally legislated plebiscite in     
#bjab that adopted the #b-vote structure
 rejected by the ,house of              
,representatives that excluded the      
,commonwealth option in the second vote2
  7#bi7 to further stack the deck in the
 #bjab plebiscite-- 7,a7 the first vote 
would be in favor or against the current
 territorial status 7a generic term     
intended to downplay the constitutional 
process of the ,act of ,july #c1 #aiej  
7commonly known as the ,puerto ,rico    
,federal ,relations ,act of #aiej7 7#fd 

,stat4 #cai1 chapter #ddf772 and  7,b7 a
 second vote would be for-- 7i7         
statehood2  7ii7 independence2 or  7iii7
 free association 7which was confusingly
 referred to as sovereign               
,commonwealth72  7#cj7 the voting       
structure in the #bjab plebiscite had   
several evident defects1 including      
that-- 7,a7 the current commonwealth    
status could lose even if commonwealth  
status had the highest voter preference2
 and  7,b7 by instructing individuals   
who voted for the current commonwealth  
status on the first question to answer  
the second question1 regardless1 the    
votes for the options of the second     
question would be inflated with those   
second-preference votes1 so it would not
 be known how many voters actually      
preferred any of those options2  7#ca7  
the results of the #bjab plebiscite were
 a mixture of all the potential         
problems1 as-- 7,a7 the status quo      
received #hbh1jgg votes on question #a1 
and statehood received #hcd1aia votes on

 question #b1 which is a difference of  
#f1aad votes2  7,b7 it is not known how 
many voters that voted for the current  
status on question #a voted for         
statehood on question #b2 and  7,c7     
since the law authorizing the plebiscite
 prohibited considering blank ballots   
for allocating percentages1 the         
commonwealth status was said to have    
obtained #df percent of the vote in the 
first vote and statehood was said to    
have obtained #fa percent of the vote in
 the second vote2  7#cb7 on ,may #ae1   
#bjac1 the pro-statehood ,resident      
,commissioner introduced ,h4,r4 #bjjj   
7#aacth ,congress71 which-- 7,a7 stated 
that statehood had obtained #fa4af      
percent of the votes of voters who chose
 an option2  7,b7 based on that         
characterization of the results1 called 
for a ratification vote that would      
provide for a self-executing            
implementation of the admission of the  
,commonwealth ,puerto ,rico as a ,state 
of the ,union of the ,united ,states2   

and  7,c7 was not acted on by the ,house
 of ,representatives2  7#cc7 instead1   
the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 
#bjad 7,public ,law #aac-gf2 #abh ,stat4
 #e71 appropriated #b1ejj1jjj for       
objective1 nonpartisan voter education  
about1 and a plebiscite on1 options that
 would resolve ,puerto ,rico's future   
political status1 which shall be        
provided to the ,state ,elections       
,commission of ,puerto ,rico41 with the 
accompanying report stating that-- 7,a7 
the #b1ejj1jjj was for objective1       
nonpartisan voter education about1 and a
 plebiscite on1 options that would      
resolve ,puerto ,rico's future political
 status2  7,b7 the funds provided for   
the plebiscite shall not be obligated   
until #de days after the ,department of 
,justice notifies the ,committees on    
,appropriations that it approves of an  
expenditure plan from the ,puerto ,rico 
,elections ,commission for voter        
education and plebiscite administration1
 including approval of the plebiscite   

ballot2 and  7,c7 the notification shall
 include a finding that the voter       
education materials1 plebiscite ballot1 
and related materials are not           
incompatible with the ,constitution and 
laws and policies of the ,united        
,state42  7#cd7 on ,february #c1 #bjag1 
with the pro-statehood party back in    
power locally1 the ,commonwealth of     
,puerto ,rico passed ,law ,number #g1   
which called for the immediate          
decolonization of ,puerto ,rico through 
a plebiscite to be held on ,june #aa1   
#bjag2  7#ce7 claiming that the         
,commonwealth option had been rejected  
in the #bjab plebiscite1 the ballot for 
the #bjag plebiscite would offer only #b
 options of-- 7,a7 statehood2 and  7,b7 
free association or independence2  7#cf7
 on ,april #ac1 #bjag1 the ,department  
of ,justice denied certification of the 
plebiscite1 stating3 ,the ,department   
has concluded that the plebiscite ballot
 is not compatible with these policies1 
as it is not drafted in a way that      

ensures that its result will accurately 
reflect the current popular will of the 
people of ,puerto ,rico4 ,as            
transmitted1 the ballot omits ,puerto   
,rico's current territorial status as an
 available option and instead provides  
the people of ,puerto ,rico with only   
two choices3 ,statehood or ,free        
,association_/,proclamation of          
,independence4 ,this omission appears to
 be based on a determination that the   
people of ,puerto ,rico definitively    
rejected ,puerto ,rico's current status 
in the plebiscite held on ,november #f1 
#bjab4 ,see ,act ,no4 #g-bjag1 ,art4    
,,iii #a7;a74 ,the ,department does not 
believe that the results of the #bjab   
plebiscite justify omitting ,puerto     
,rico's current status as an option on  
the ballot4 ,for a variety of reasons1  
the validity of the #bjab plebiscite's  
results have been the subject of        
controversy and debate4 ,see            
,congressional ,research ,service1      
,puerto ,rico's ,political ,status and  

the #bjab ,plebiscite3 ,background and  
,key ,questions1 at #h 7,june #be1      
#bjac7 7,,crs ,report74 ,furthermore1   
nearly five years have elapsed since    
that plebiscite1 during which           
significant political1 economic1 and    
demographic changes have occurred in    
,puerto ,rico and the ,united ,states4  
,as a result1 it is uncertain that it is
 the present will of the people to      
reject ,puerto ,rico's current status4  
,accordingly1 any plebiscite that now   
seeks to resolve ,puerto ,rico's future 
political status1 as the ,appropriations
 ,act contemplates1 should include the  
current territorial status as an option4
 ,see #bjaa ,task ,force ,report1 at #bf
 7noting that the current status must be
 an available option for the people of  
,puerto ,rico74 ,otherwise1 there would 
be real questions about the vote's      
legitimacy and its ability to reflect   
accurately the will of the people4 ,id4 
,furthermore1 the ,department has       
determined that the plebiscite ballot   

language contains several ambiguous and 
potentially misleading statements1 which
 may hinder voters' ability to make a   
fully informed choice as well as efforts
 to ascertain the will of the people    
from the plebiscite results4 ,the       
statements of concern are as follows3   
,the ballot's description of the        
,statehood option contains the following
 statement3 ,i am aware that ,statehood 
is the only option that guarantees the  
,american citizenship by birth in       
,puerto ,rico4 ,this statement is       
inaccurate when considered in the       
context of all available status options1
 as under current law1 ,puerto ,ricans  
have an unconditional statutory right to
 birthright citizenship4 ,the sentence  
therefore is potentially misleading and 
reinforces the ballot's flawed omission 
of an option for retaining ,puerto      
,rico's current territorial status42    
7#cg7 the local government amended the  
bill purportedly to comply with the     
,department of ,justice demands1 but did

 not allow for ,department of ,justice  
certification1 provoking a massive      
boycott by the ,commonwealth supporters 
and independence supporters2  7#ch7 in  
the plebiscite of ,june #aa1 #bjag--    
7,a7 there was a historically low       
participation rate of #bc percent of    
registered voters in the ,commonwealth  
of ,puerto ,rico2 and  7,b7 #ejh1hfb    
voters in the ,commonwealth of ,puerto  
,rico voted for statehood1 which was #ig
 percent of votes cast2  7#ci7 the same 
pro-statehood administration in the     
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico called   
for a new plebiscite in #bjbj that would
 include an up-or-down statehood vote2  
7#dj7 by letter of ,july #bi1 #bjbj1    
addressed to the ,chairman of the       
,puerto ,rico ,elections ,commission1   
the ,department of ,justice again       
rejected certification1 stating that--  
7,a7 the ,united ,states has            
consistently remained neutral about the 
legally permissible status options for  
the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 of  

which the current status is #a2 and     
7,b7 a plebiscite that asks voters if   
the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico      
should be admitted immediately into the 
,union of the ,united ,states as a      
,state is regarded as a pro-statehood   
initiative that departs from that policy
 of neutrality2  7#da7 ,executive ,order
 #acahc 7#dh ,u4,s4,c4 #gca note2       
relating to establishment of the        
,president's ,task ,force on ,puerto    
,rico's ,status71 states that the policy
 of the executive branch is to work with
 leaders of the ,commonwealth and the   
,congress to clarify the options to     
enable ,puerto ,ricans to determine     
their preference among options for the  
islands' future status that are not     
incompatible with the ,constitution and 
basic laws and policies of the ,united  
,states2 and to implement such an option
 if chosen by a majority42 and  7#db7   
the status options for the ,commonwealth
 of ,puerto ,rico that are not          
incompatible with the ,constitution and 

basic laws and policies of the ,united  
,states are-- 7,a7 commonwealth status2 
7,b7 statehood2  7,c7 independence2 and 
7,d7 free association4  #c4 ,definitions
 ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,commonwealth      
government ,the term ,commonwealth      
government means the government of the  
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico          
7including any department1 agency1 or   
instrumentality of the government of the
 ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico74  7#b7 
,elections ,commission ,the term        
,elections ,commission means the ,puerto
 ,rico ,state ,commission on ,elections4
  7#c7 ,eligible voter ,the term        
eligible voter means a bona fide        
resident of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto
 ,rico who is otherwise qualified to    
vote in a general election in the       
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico4  7#d7   
,governor ,the term ,governor means the 
,governor of the ,commonwealth of       
,puerto ,rico4  7#e7 ,immigration laws  
,the term immigration laws has the      
meaning given the term in section #aja  

of the ,immigration and ,nationality    
,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja74  7#f7        
,initial plebiscite ,the term initial   
plebiscite means the plebiscite required
 by section #aja7;a77#a74  7#g7         
,legislative assembly ,the term         
,legislative ,assembly means the        
,legislative ,assembly of ,puerto ,rico4
  7#h7 ,runoff plebiscite ,the term     
runoff plebiscite means the plebiscite  
required by section #aja7;a77#d74  7#i7 
,status option ,the term status option  
means an option described in section    
#aja7;a77#b74  ,i ,plebiscites  #aja4   
,initial plebiscite2 runoff plebiscite  
7a7 ,requirement  7#a7 ,initial         
plebiscite ,a plebiscite to resolve the 
political status of the ,commonwealth of
 ,puerto ,rico shall be held on ,august 
#d1 #bjbd4  7#b7 ,options ,the initial  
plebiscite shall offer eligible voters a
 choice of #a of the following #d       
options on the ballot3 7,a7             
,independence4  7,b7 ,sovereignty in    
,free ,association with the ,united     

,states4  7,c7 ,statehood4  7,d7        
,commonwealth4  7#c7 ,majority vote     
required ,approval of a status option   
shall be by a majority of the valid     
votes cast by eligible voters4  7#d7    
,runoff plebiscite ,if there is not a   
majority vote in favor of #a of the     
status options in the initial           
plebiscite1 a runoff plebiscite shall be
 held on ,march #af1 #bjbe1 which shall 
offer eligible voters a choice on the   
ballot of the #b status options that    
received the most votes in the initial  
plebiscite4  7b7 ,ballot language ,a    
ballot for a plebiscite required by     
subsection 7a7 shall include the        
following language3  ,instructions ,mark
 the status option you choose as each is
 defined below4 ,a ballot with more than
 #a option marked will not be counted4  
,a ballot with no option marked will not
 be counted4 7#a7 ,independence ,if you 
agree1 mark here 4 7,a7 ,puerto ,rico is
 a sovereign nation that has full       
authority and responsibility over its   

territory and population under a        
constitution of its own adoption which  
shall be the supreme law of the nation4 
7,b7 ,puerto ,rico is vested with full  
powers and responsibilities consistent  
with the rights and responsibilities    
that devolve upon a sovereign nation    
under international law1 including its  
own fiscal and monetary policy1         
immigration1 trade1 and the conduct in  
its own name and right of relations with
 other nations and international        
organizations4  7,c7 ,puerto ,rico has  
full authority and responsibility over  
its citizenship and immigration laws4   
,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
 citizenship1 except that persons who   
have such ,united ,states citizenship   
have a right to retain ,united ,states  
nationality and citizenship for life1 by
 entitlement or election1 as provided by

 ,united ,states law4  7,d7 ,puerto     
,rico will no longer be a possession of 
the ,united ,states for purposes of the 
,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf 7or   
any successor code74 ,united ,states    
citizens and ,united ,states businesses 
in ,puerto ,rico will be subject to     
,united ,states ,federal tax laws 7as is
 the case with any other ,united ,states
 citizen or ,united ,states business    
located abroad7 and to ,puerto ,rican   
tax laws4 ,the status of ,puerto ,rico  
as an independent1 sovereign nation will
 be the controlling factor in the       
taxation of ,puerto ,rican taxpayers4   
7,e7 ,the ,constitution and laws of the 
,united ,states no longer apply in      
,puerto ,rico1 and ,united ,states      
sovereignty in ,puerto ,rico is ended4  
7#b7 ,sovereignty in free association   
with the ,united ,states ,if you agree1 
mark here 4 7,a7 ,puerto ,rico is a     
sovereign nation that has full authority
 and responsibility over its territory  
and population under a constitution of  

its own adoption1 which shall be the    
supreme law of the nation4  7,b7 ,puerto
 ,rico is vested with full powers and   
responsibilities consistent with the    
rights and responsibilities that devolve
 upon a sovereign nation under          
international law1 including its own    
fiscal and monetary policy1 immigration1
 trade1 and the conduct in its own name 
and right of relations with other       
nations and international organizations1
 except as otherwise provided for in the
 ,articles of ,free ,association to be  
negotiated by ,puerto ,rico and the     
,united ,states4  7,c7 ,puerto ,rico has
 full authority and responsibility over 
its citizenship and immigration laws4   
,persons who have ,united ,states       
citizenship have a right to retain      
,united ,states nationality and         
citizenship for life by entitlement or  
election as provided by ,united ,states 
law4  7,d7 ,birth in ,puerto ,rico shall
 cease to be a basis for ,united ,states
 nationality or citizenship1 except that

 children born in ,puerto ,rico to      
parents1 both of whom are ,united       
,states citizens1 shall be eligible to  
acquire ,united ,states citizenship4    
,the application process for ,united    
,states citizenship for such children   
shall be similar to the process for     
descendants of citizens born in a       
foreign country1 since the children     
would be born outside the jurisdiction  
of the ,united ,states1 despite being   
children of ,united ,states citizens4   
7,e7 ,puerto ,rico enters into ,articles
 of ,free ,association with the ,united 
,states1 with such devolution and       
reservation of governmental functions   
and other bilateral arrangements as may 
be agreed to by the ,united ,states and 
,puerto ,rico under the ,articles of    
,free ,association1 which shall be      
terminable at will by either the ,united
 ,states or ,puerto ,rico at any time4  
7,f7 ,puerto ,rico will no longer be a  
possession of the ,united ,states for   
purposes of the ,internal ,revenue ,code

 of #aihf 7or any successor code74      
,united ,states citizens and ,united    
,states businesses in ,puerto ,rico will
 be subject to ,united ,states ,federal 
tax laws 7as is the case with any other 
,united ,states citizen or ,united      
,states business located abroad7 and to 
,puerto ,rican tax laws4 ,the status of 
,puerto ,rico as an independent1        
sovereign nation will be the controlling
 factor in the taxation of ,puerto      
,rican taxpayers4 ,puerto ,rico will    
enter into an agreement with the ,united
 ,states to provide for ,sovereignty in 
,free ,association that may modify the  
otherwise-applicable tax rules1 subject 
to negotiation and ratification by      
,puerto ,rico and the ,united ,states4  
7,g7 ,the ,constitution and the laws of 
the ,united ,states no longer apply in  
,puerto ,rico1 except as otherwise      
provided in the ,articles of ,free      
,association1 and ,united ,states       
sovereignty in ,puerto ,rico is ended4  
7,h7 ,all matters pertaining to the     

government-to-government relationship   
between ,puerto ,rico and the ,united   
,states1 which may include foreign      
affairs1 trade1 finance1 taxation1      
security1 defense1 dispute resolution1  
and termination1 shall be provided for  
in the ,articles of ,free ,association4 
7#c7 ,statehood ,if you agree1 mark here
 4 7,a7 ,the ,state of ,puerto ,rico    
shall request admission into the ,union 
of the ,united ,states on an equal      
footing with the other ,states in all   
respects and as a part of the permanent 
,union of the ,united ,states1 subject  
to the ,constitution of the ,united     
,states1 with powers not prohibited by  
the ,constitution of the ,united ,states
 to the ,states reserved to the ,state  
of ,puerto ,rico4  7,b7 ,the residents  
of ,puerto ,rico shall1 on admission1 be
 fully self-governing with the rights of
 the residents secured under the        
,constitution of the ,united ,states1   
which shall be fully applicable in      
,puerto ,rico and which1 with the laws  

and treaties of the ,united ,states1 is 
the supreme law and has the same force  
and effect in ,puerto ,rico as in the   
other ,states of the ,union of the      
,united ,states4  7,c7 ,united ,states  
citizenship of individuals born in      
,puerto ,rico is recognized1 protected1 
and secured under the ,constitution of  
the ,united ,states in the same way     
citizenship is recognized1 protected1   
and secured for all ,united ,states     
citizens born in the other ,states4     
,such rights shall be accompanied by the
 same responsibilities1 including the   
immediate initiation of full payment of 
,federal taxes in the same manner as    
residents of the other ,states4 ,in the 
event that ,puerto ,rico becomes a      
,state of the ,united ,states1 the      
provisions of chapter #bbje of title    
#cf1 ,united ,states ,code1 relating to 
the exclusive existence of a single     
,united ,states ,olympic ,committee     
shall apply to ,puerto ,rico4  7,d7 ,on 
admission1 ,puerto ,rico will no longer 

be considered to be a possession of the 
,united ,states for purposes of the     
,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf 7or   
any successor code74 ,in lieu of such   
consideration as a possession1 the      
,state of ,puerto ,rico will become a   
,state on equal footing with each of the
 #ej ,states in the ,united ,states4    
,individuals and businesses residing in 
the ,state of ,puerto ,rico will be     
subject to ,united ,states ,federal tax 
laws and to tax laws of the ,state of   
,puerto ,rico4  7#d7                    
,commonwealth-,estado ,libre ,asociado  
,if you agree1 mark here 4 7,a7 ,a vote 
for ,commonwealth-,estado ,libre        
,asociado shall be a mandate to         
empowerment of the ,commonwealth of     
,puerto ,rico in accordance with the    
principles and parameters described in  
subparagraphs 7,b7 through 7,e74  7,b7  
,the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico     
shall be united to the ,united ,states  
by a formal compact of political        
autonomy4 ,the compact shall have the   

character of a permanent relationship   
and shall establish1 as public policy of
 the ,united ,states1 that any          
modification to the relationship shall  
be approved by the people of ,puerto    
,rico by referendum4  7,c7 ,united      
,states citizenship of individuals born 
in the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico   
shall be guaranteed and protected as    
provided in the ,united ,states         
,constitution4 ,the application1        
protections1 and rights associated with 
citizenship shall be equal to the       
protections and rights of citizens born 
in the ,states of the ,united ,states of
 ,america4  7,d7 ,federal laws and      
programs shall apply to the             
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico in       
accordance with the provisions of the   
autonomous compact4 ,however1 if the    
government of ,puerto ,rico determines  
that the enactment of a ,federal law or 
a specific provision of a statute or    
regulation of the ,united ,states       
modifies or affects the powers granted  

to the people of ,puerto ,rico with     
respect to self-government1 fiscal      
autonomy1 or cultural identity1 the     
government of ,puerto ,rico may request 
an exemption from the application of the
 statute or regulation4 ,the compact    
shall include an expedited mediation    
mechanism to address such claims4  7,e7 
,the compact shall replace the          
corresponding provisions of the ,act of 
,july #c1 #aiej 7commonly known as the  
,puerto ,rico ,federal ,relations ,act  
of #aiej7 7#fd ,stat4 #cai1 chapter     
#ddf71 regarding the application of     
certain ,federal laws that1 due to the  
scope of the ,federal laws1 could       
unilaterally modify the nature of the   
political autonomy relationship4  4  7c7
 ,implementation of plebiscite ,the     
plebiscites authorized by this section  
shall be implemented by the ,elections  
,commission1 consistent with-- 7#a7 the 
laws of ,puerto ,rico2 and  7#b7        
applicable ,federal law4  7d7 ,results  
,the ,elections ,commission shall submit

 to the ,president1 the ,president pro  
tempore of the ,senate1 the ,speaker of 
the ,house of ,representatives1 the     
,committee on ,energy and ,natural      
,resources of the ,senate1 and the      
,committee on ,natural ,resources of the
 ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 not  
later than #cj calendar days after the  
date on which the initial plebiscite is 
held1 the results of the initial        
plebiscite2 and  7#b7 not later than #cj
 calendar days after the date on which a
 runoff plebiscite is held1 if          
applicable1 the results of the runoff   
plebiscite4  7e7 ,jurisdiction of       
,district ,court ,the ,united ,states   
,district ,court for the ,district of   
,puerto ,rico shall have original and   
exclusive jurisdiction over any civil   
action alleging a dispute or controversy
 relating to a plebiscite conducted     
under this section4  #ajb4 ,nonpartisan 
voter education campaign  7a7 ,in       
general ,subject to section #ajc1 the   
,elections ,commission shall-- 7#a7     

carry out a nonpartisan voter education 
campaign with respect to the plebiscites
 to be conducted under section #aja     
through traditional paid media2 and     
7#b7 make available at all voting       
locations in the ,commonwealth of       
,puerto ,rico voter education materials 
relating to the plebiscites to be       
conducted under section #aja4  7b7      
,requirements for voter education       
materials ,at a minimum1 the voter      
education materials made available under
 subsection 7a77#b7 shall address1 for  
each status option-- 7#a7 international 
representation2  7#b7 citizenship and   
immigration2 and  7#c7 access and       
treatment under ,federal law and        
programs4  7c7 ,bilingual voter         
educational materials and ballots ,all  
voter educational materials and ballots 
made available for a plebiscite required
 by section #aja shall be made available
 in ,english and ,spanish4  #ajc4       
,oversight  7a7 ,submission of materials
 ,the ,elections ,commission shall      

submit to the ,attorney ,general for    
review-- 7#a7 not later than #fj days   
after the date of enactment of this     
,act-- 7,a7 the ballot design for the   
initial plebiscite2 and  7,b7 any voter 
education materials for the initial     
plebiscite to be made available in      
accordance with section #ajb2 and  7#b7 
not later than #cj days after the date  
on which an initial plebiscite is held  
in which there is not a majority vote in
 favor of #a of the status options--    
7,a7 the ballot design for the runoff   
plebiscite2 and  7,b7 any voter         
education materials for the runoff      
plebiscite to be made available in      
accordance with section #ajb4  7b7      
,review ,not later than #de days after  
receiving ballot design and voter       
education materials under subsection    
7a71 the ,attorney ,general shall-- 7#a7
 review the ballot design and voter     
education materials to ensure-- 7,a7    
consistency with this ,act2 and  7,b7   
that each of #d status options are      

represented fairly1 particularly if any 
of the #d options are not represented on
 the ,elections ,commission by a member 
of a political party that supports the  
status option2 and  7#b7 7,a7 return the
 ballot design and voter education      
materials to the ,elections ,commission 
with comments and instructions for      
changes1 as applicable2 or  7,b7 inform 
the ,elections ,commission that-- 7i7 no
 instructions or requests for changes   
shall be made under subparagraph 7,a72  
but  7ii7 the ,attorney ,general        
reserves the right to submit            
instructions for changes in accordance  
with this section if additional         
information comes to the attention of   
the ,attorney ,general during the       
remainder of the #de-;day period4  7c7  
,effect of failure ,to comply ,if the   
,attorney ,general fails to comply with 
the requirements of subsection 7b7      
within the #de-;day period described in 
that subsection1 the ballot design and  
voter education materials submitted     

under subsection 7a7 shall be considered
 to be approved4  7d7 ,revision ,not    
later than #de days after receiving     
comments and instructions for changes   
from the ,attorney ,general under       
subsection 7b77#b71 the ,elections      
,commission shall revise the ballot     
design and voter education materials in 
accordance with the comments and        
instructions submitted by the ,attorney 
,general4  #ajd4 ,funds for voter       
education1 plebiscites  7a7             
,authorization of appropriations ,there 
are authorized to be appropriated such  
sums as are necessary for the ,elections
 ,commission to carry out-- 7#a7 a      
nonpartisan voter education campaign    
under section #ajb2 and  7#b7 7,a7 an   
initial plebiscite2 and  7,b7 if        
necessary1 a runoff plebiscite4  7b7    
,use of existing funds ,notwithstanding 
any other provision of the ,consolidated
 ,appropriations ,act1 #bjad 7,public   
,law #aac-gf2 #abh ,stat4 #e71 the      
unobligated balance of funds made       

available to carry out a plebiscite on  
the status of the ,commonwealth of      
,puerto ,rico under paragraph 7#a7 under
 the heading state and local law        
enforcement assistance under the heading
 ,office of ,justice ,programs under the
 heading ,department of ,justice in     
title ,,ii of division ,b of that ,act  
7,public ,law #aac-gf2 #abh ,stat4 #fa7 
shall be made available to carry out    
this ,act4  ,,ii ,transition and        
implementation of independence status   
#bja4 ,definitions ,in this title3 7#a7 
,constitutional convention ,the term    
constitutional convention means a       
constitutional convention established   
under section #bjb7;d77#b74  7#b7       
,proclamation ,the term ,proclamation   
means a ,presidential proclamation      
issued under section #bjh7;a74  #bjb4   
,constitutional convention  7a7         
,election of delegates ,not later than  
#ahj days after the effective date of   
certification of a plebiscite under this
 ,act that favors independence1 the     

,legislative ,assembly shall provide for
 the election of delegates to a         
constitutional convention to formulate  
and draft a constitution for the nation 
of ,puerto ,rico4  7b7 ,eligible voters 
,all eligible voters may vote in the    
election of delegates to the            
constitutional convention under         
subsection 7a74  7c7 ,general           
applicability of electoral law ,the laws
 of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico  
relating to the electoral process shall 
apply to an election held under         
subsection 7a74  7d7 ,initial meeting   
7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj   
days after the date of the election of  
delegates to the constitutional         
convention under subsection 7a71 the    
elected delegates shall meet at such    
time and place as the ,legislative      
,assembly shall determine4  7#b7        
,establishment ,the initial meeting of  
the elected delegates to the            
constitutional convention under         
paragraph 7#a7 shall be considered to be

 the establishment of the constitutional
 convention4  #bjc4 ,character of the   
constitution ,the constitutional        
convention shall formulate and draft a  
constitution for the nation of ,puerto  
,rico that guarantees the protection of 
fundamental human rights1 including--   
7#a7 due process and equal protection   
under the law2  7#b7 freedom of speech1 
press1 assembly1 association1 and       
religion2  7#c7 the rights of the       
accused2  7#d7 any other economic1      
social1 and cultural rights as the      
constitutional convention may determine 
to be necessary2 and  7#e7 provisions to
 ensure that no individual born in the  
nation of ,puerto ,rico shall be        
stateless at birth4  #bjd4 ,submission2 
ratification  7a7 ,submission ,not later
 than #a year after the date of         
establishment of the constitutional     
convention1 the ,elections ,commission  
shall submit the constitution formulated
 and drafted by the delegates to the    
constitutional convention to the        

eligible voters for ratification or     
rejection in a special election4  7b7   
,manner of election ,the special        
election held under subsection 7a7 shall
 be held in the manner prescribed by the
 ,legislative ,assembly4  7c7 ,rejection
 ,if the constitution of the nation of  
,puerto ,rico is rejected in a special  
election held under subsection 7a71 the 
process provided for under sections #bjb
 and #bjc and subsections 7a7 and 7b7   
shall be repeated1 except that section  
#bjb7;a7 shall be applied by            
substituting-- 7#a7 the special election
 for a plebiscite2 and  7#b7 rejects the
 ,constitution for favors independence4 
#bje4 ,election of officers  7a7 ,in    
general ,not later than #cj days after  
the date of ratification of the         
constitution of the nation of ,puerto   
,rico under section #bjd1 the ,governor 
shall issue a proclamation calling for  
the election of any officers of the     
nation of ,puerto ,rico that may be     
required by the ratified constitution of

 the nation of ,puerto ,rico4  7b7      
,deadline2 procedures ,the election of  
the officers under subsection 7a7 shall 
be held-- 7#a7 not later than #ahj days 
after the date of ratification of the   
constitution of the nation of ,puerto   
,rico2 and  7#b7 in accordance with the 
procedures and requirements established 
by the constitution of the nation of    
,puerto ,rico4  7c7 ,certification of   
results ,not later than #aj days after  
the date of the election of officers    
under subsection 7a71 the ,elections    
,commission shall certify the results of
 the election under that subsection4    
7d7 ,notice ,as soon as practicable     
after the date of the certification     
under subsection 7c71 the ,governor     
shall submit notice of the results of   
the election certified under that       
subsection to-- 7#a7 the ,president2    
7#b7 the ,president pro tempore of the  
,senate2  7#c7 the ,speaker of the      
,house of ,representatives2  7#d7 the   
,committee on ,energy and ,natural      

,resources of the ,senate2 and  7#e7 the
 ,committee on ,natural ,resources of   
the ,house of ,representatives4  #bjf4  
,conforming amendments to existing law  
7a7 ,review ,not later than #cj days    
after the initial meeting of the        
constitutional convention under section 
#bjb7;d71 the ,president shall initiate 
a review of ,federal laws with respect  
to ,puerto ,rico1 including ,federal    
laws relating to-- 7#a7 taxation of     
persons and businesses2  7#b7 health    
care2  7#c7 housing2  7#d7              
transportation2  7#e7 education2 and    
7#f7 entitlement programs4  7b7         
,recommendations ,not later than #a year
 after the date on which the ,president 
initiates a review under subsection 7a71
 the ,president shall submit to         
,congress recommendations for changes to
 ,federal laws identified during the    
review1 as the ,president determines to 
be appropriate4  #bjg4 ,joint           
,transition ,commission  7a7            
,appointment ,not later than #ahj days  

after the date of establishment of the  
constitutional convention1 a ,joint     
,transition ,commission shall be        
established1 with the ,president and the
 presiding officer of the constitutional
 convention appointing an equal number  
of members to the ,joint ,transition    
,commission4  7b7 ,duties ,the ,joint   
,transition ,commission established     
under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 be    
responsible for expediting the orderly  
transfer to the nation of ,puerto ,rico 
of all functions exercised by the       
,federal ,government in the             
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico or with  
respect to the ,commonwealth of ,puerto 
,rico2  7#b7 develop procedures relating
 to the operations and governance of the
 ,joint ,transition ,commission2 and    
7#c7 provide to the appropriate         
committees of ,congress recommendations 
for any appropriate legislation to carry
 out the transfer under paragraph 7#a74 
7c7 ,collaboration ,the ,commonwealth   
government and ,federal agencies shall  

collaborate with the ,joint ,transition 
,commission and the officers of the     
nation of ,puerto ,rico to provide for  
the orderly transfer of the functions   
under subsection 7b77#a74  #bjh4        
,proclamation by ,president  7a7        
,proclamation ,not later than #cj days  
after the date of certification of the  
elected officers of the nation of       
,puerto ,rico under section #bje7;c71   
the ,president shall1 by proclamation-- 
7#a7 withdraw and surrender all rights  
of possession1 supervision1             
jurisdiction1 control1 or sovereignty   
exercised by the ,united ,states over   
the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico and  
residents of the ,commonwealth of       
,puerto ,rico on the day before the date
 of issuance of the ,proclamation2  7#b7
 recognize1 on behalf of the ,united    
,states1 the independence of the nation 
of ,puerto ,rico and the authority of   
the government of the nation of ,puerto 
,rico adopted by eligible voters under  
the constitution of the nation of       

,puerto ,rico2 and  7#c7 state that the 
effective date of withdrawal of the     
sovereignty of the ,united ,states and  
recognition of independence of the      
nation of ,puerto ,rico shall be the    
date of issuance of the ,proclamation4  
7b7 ,transmission of ,proclamation ,not 
later than #g days after the date of    
issuance of the ,proclamation1 the      
,president shall transmit a copy of the 
,proclamation to each of-- 7#a7 the     
presiding officer of the constitutional 
convention2  7#b7 the officer elected as
 head of state of the nation of ,puerto 
,rico2  7#c7 the ,president pro tempore 
of the ,senate2  7#d7 the ,speaker of   
the ,house of ,representatives2  7#e7   
the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural  
,resources of the ,senate2 and  7#f7 the
 ,committee on ,natural ,resources of   
the ,house of ,representatives4  7c7    
,date government ,to take office ,not   
later than #g days after the date of    
receipt of the ,proclamation under      
subsection 7b7 and with the advice of   

the officer elected as head of state of 
the nation of ,puerto ,rico1 the        
presiding officer of the constitutional 
convention shall-- 7#a7 determine the   
date on which the government of the     
nation of ,puerto ,rico shall take      
office2 and  7#b7 submit notice of the  
date determined under paragraph 7#a7    
to-- 7,a7 the ,governor2  7,b7 the      
,president2  7,c7 the ,president pro    
tempore of the ,senate2 and  7,d7 the   
,speaker of the ,house of               
,representatives4  #bji4 ,legal and     
constitutional provisions ,on the date  
of issuance of the ,proclamation and    
except as otherwise provided in this    
title or in any agreements between the  
,united ,states and the nation of       
,puerto ,rico-- 7#a7 all property1      
rights1 and interests that the ,united  
,states may have acquired in the        
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico under the
 ,treaty of ,peace between the ,united  
,states of ,america and the ,kingdom of 
,spain1 signed at ,paris on ,december   

#aj1 #ahih 7#cj ,stat4 #aged71 and      
otherwise by cession1 purchase1 or      
eminent domain1 with the exception of   
land and other property1 rights1 or     
interests that may have been sold or    
otherwise legally disposed of before the
 date of issuance of the ,proclamation1 
shall vest in the nation of ,puerto     
,rico2 and  7#b7 except as provided in  
section #bab1 all laws of the ,united   
,states applicable to the ,commonwealth 
of ,puerto ,rico on the day before the  
date of issuance of the ,proclamation   
shall no longer apply in the nation of  
,puerto ,rico4  #baj4 ,judicial         
pronouncements  7a7 ,judgments before   
,proclamation ,the nation of ,puerto    
,rico shall recognize and give effect to
 all orders and judgments rendered by   
courts of the ,united ,states or the    
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico on the   
day before the date of issuance of the  
,proclamation pursuant to the laws of   
the ,united ,states applicable to the   
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico4  7b7    

,continuity of pending proceedings ,all 
judicial proceedings pending in the     
courts of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto  
,rico on the date of issuance of the    
,proclamation shall be continued in the 
corresponding courts under the          
constitution of the nation of ,puerto   
,rico4  7c7 ,transfer of judicial power 
7#a7 ,in general ,beginning on the date 
of issuance of the ,proclamation-- 7,a7 
the judicial power of the ,united       
,states shall no longer extend to the   
nation of ,puerto ,rico2  7,b7 any      
proceeding pending in the ,united       
,states ,district ,court for the        
,district of ,puerto ,rico as of that   
date shall be transferred to the        
applicable court in the nation of       
,puerto ,rico or other competent        
judicial authority under the            
constitution of the nation of ,puerto   
,rico for disposition in accordance with
 laws applicable on the date on which   
the controversy that is the subject of  
the proceeding arose2 and  7,c7 any     

proceeding pending in the ,united       
,states ,court of ,appeals for the      
,first ,circuit or in the ,supreme      
,court of the ,united ,states as of that
 date that initiated in1 or that could  
have been initiated in1 the courts of   
the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico or in
 the ,united ,states ,district ,court   
for the ,district of ,puerto ,rico      
shall-- 7i7 continue until the date of  
final disposition2 and  7ii7 be         
submitted to the competent authority of 
the nation of ,puerto ,rico for proper  
execution4  7#b7 ,exception             
,notwithstanding paragraph 7#a71 if the 
,united ,states or any officer of the   
,united ,states is a party to a         
proceeding described in subparagraph    
7,b7 or 7,c7 of that paragraph1 any     
final judgment in that proceeding shall 
be properly executed by the competent   
authority of the ,united ,states4  #baa4
 ,citizenship and immigration laws after
 ,puerto ,rican independence  7a7       
,citizenship status  7#a7 ,puerto ,rican

 nationality ,beginning on the date of  
issuance of the ,proclamation1 the      
citizenship status of each individual   
born in ,puerto ,rico shall be          
determined in accordance with the       
constitution and laws of the nation of  
,puerto ,rico4  7#b7 ,united ,states    
immigration laws ,except as provided in 
this section1 beginning on the date of  
issuance of the ,proclamation1 a citizen
 of ,puerto ,rico seeking to enter into 
the ,united ,states or obtain           
citizenship in the ,united ,states shall
 be subject to the immigration laws4    
7b7 ,effect of ,puerto ,rican           
citizenship  7#a7 ,in general ,except as
 provided in paragraph 7#b71 nothing in 
this title precludes or limits the      
applicability of section #cdi of the    
,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h  
,u4,s4,c4 #adha74  7#b7 ,exception ,the 
provision of citizenship by the laws of 
the nation of ,puerto ,rico under       
subsection 7a77#a7 shall not constitute1
 or otherwise serve as the basis of1    

loss or relinquishment of ,united       
,states citizenship under section #cdi  
of the ,immigration and ,nationality    
,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #adha74  7c7         
,citizenship at birth after independence
 ,an individual born in the nation of   
,puerto ,rico after the date of issuance
 of the ,proclamation to at least #a    
parent who became a ,united ,states     
citizen under section #cjb of the       
,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h  
,u4,s4,c4 #adjb7 shall not be considered
 to be a ,united ,states citizen at     
birth under subsection 7c71 7d71 or 7g7 
of section #cja of that ,act 7#h        
,u4,s4,c4 #adja74  7d7 ,travel and work 
authorization  7#a7 ,in general ,an     
individual in any of the following      
categories may enter1 lawfully engage in
 occupations1 and establish residence as
 a nonimmigrant in the ,united ,states  
and territories and possessions of the  
,united ,states without regard to       
paragraphs 7#e77;,a7 and 7#g7 of section
 #bab7;a7 of the ,immigration and       

,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#aahb7;a773 7,a7 ,an individual who     
acquires citizenship of ,puerto ,rico at
 birth1 on or after the date of issuance
 of the ,proclamation4  7,b7 ,a         
naturalized citizen of ,puerto ,rico    
who-- 7i7 has been an actual resident of
 ,puerto ,rico for not fewer than #e    
years after attaining naturalization2   
and  7ii7 holds a proof of that         
residence4  7#b7 ,employment permission 
,an individual described in subparagraph
 7,a7 or 7,b7 of paragraph 7#a7 shall be
 considered to have the permission of   
the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security to
 accept employment in the ,united       
,states4  7#c7 ,limitations ,the right  
of an individual described in           
subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 of paragraph  
7#a7 to establish habitual residence in 
a territory or possession of the ,united
 ,states may be subjected to            
nondiscriminatory limitations provided  
for-- 7,a7 in laws or regulations of the
 ,united ,states2 or  7,b7 in laws or   

regulations of the applicable territory 
or possession that are authorized by    
,federal law4  7#d7 ,termination of     
effectiveness ,this subsection shall    
expire on the date that is #be years    
after the date of issuance of the       
,proclamation4  7e7 ,conforming         
amendments  7#a7 ,in general ,section   
#aja7;a7 of the ,immigration and        
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#aaja7;a77 is amended-- 7,a7 in         
paragraph 7#cf71 by striking ,puerto    
,rico12 and  7,b7 in paragraph 7#ch71 by
 striking ,puerto ,rico14  7#b7         
,effective date ,the amendments made by 
paragraph 7#a7 shall take effect on the 
date of issuance of the ,proclamation4  
7f7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in   
this section limits the authority of the
 ,united ,states to change any          
requirement for ,united ,states         
citizenship4  #bab4 ,individual rights  
to economic benefits and grants  7a7    
,rights and benefits  7#a7 ,in general  
,any vested rights and benefits that    

accrue to residents of the ,commonwealth
 of ,puerto ,rico under the laws of the 
,united ,states from past services or   
contributions1 such as rights and       
benefits for veterans of the ,armed     
,forces or eligible relatives of        
veterans of the ,armed ,forces1 retired 
,federal ,government employees1 or      
beneficiaries of old age1 disability1 or
 survivor benefits under the ,social    
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cja et   
seq471 shall not be interrupted after   
the date of issuance of the             
,proclamation1 but shall continue until 
the date on which the rights and        
benefits are extinguished according to  
applicable ,federal law4  7#b7          
,agreement required ,all services to be 
provided as part of the rights and      
benefits described in paragraph 7#a7    
shall be made available through the     
government of the nation of ,puerto     
,rico in accordance with agreements     
entered into by the government of the   
nation of ,puerto ,rico and the         

,government of the ,united ,states4  7b7
 ,social ,security system  7#a7 ,in     
general ,notwithstanding subsection 7a7 
and subject to paragraph 7#b71 the      
,secretary of the ,treasury shall       
transfer all contributions made by      
employees and employers in the          
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico to the   
,social ,security system under the      
,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#cja et seq47 with respect to           
individuals who1 as of the date of      
issuance of the ,proclamation1 are      
residents of the nation of ,puerto ,rico
 and are not yet eligible for old age1  
disability1 or survivor benefits under  
the ,social ,security system to the     
government of the nation of ,puerto     
,rico on the date on which the          
government of the nation of ,puerto     
,rico establishes a social security     
system for the nation of ,puerto ,rico4 
7#b7 ,use of funds ,the government of   
the nation of ,puerto ,rico may not use 
the amounts transferred under paragraph 

7#a7 for any purpose other than the     
establishment and operation of a social 
security system for the nation of       
,puerto ,rico4  7#c7 ,obligations ,on   
the transfer of the amounts under       
paragraph 7#a71 the obligations of the  
,federal ,government under the ,social  
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cja et   
seq47 with respect to the residents of  
the nation of ,puerto ,rico shall cease4
  7c7 ,other ,federal transfer payments 
7#a7 ,block grants ,any ,federal        
transfer payments to individuals and to 
the ,commonwealth government not        
described in subsection 7a7 or 7b7 shall
 be maintained in the form of annual    
block grants to be used by the          
government of the nation of ,puerto     
,rico at the discretion of the          
government of the nation of ,puerto     
,rico4  7#b7 ,annual aggregate funding  
,during the #aj-;fiscal-year period     
beginning on the date of issuance of the
 ,proclamation1 the amount of an annual 
block grant described in paragraph 7#a7 

shall be equal to the greater of-- 7,a7 
the annual aggregate funding of all     
programs described in that paragraph    
that extend to the ,commonwealth of     
,puerto ,rico during the applicable     
fiscal year2 and  7,b7 the annual       
aggregate funding of all programs       
described in that paragraph that were   
extended to the ,commonwealth of ,puerto
 ,rico during the fiscal year           
immediately prior to the date of        
issuance of the ,proclamation4  7#c7    
,decrease in amount ,beginning in the   
#aath fiscal year after the date of     
issuance of the ,proclamation1 the      
amount of the annual block grants       
described in paragraph 7#a71 as         
calculated under paragraph 7#b71 shall  
decrease at the rate of #aj percent each
 year4  7#d7 ,modification of terms ,the
 terms of this subsection may be        
modified by agreement between the       
,united ,states and the nation of       
,puerto ,rico4  ,,iii ,transition and   
implementation of sovereignty in free   

association with the ,united ,states    
option  #cja4 ,definitions ,in this     
title3 7#a7 ,constitutional convention  
,the term constitutional convention     
means a constitutional convention       
established under section #cjb7;d77#b74 
7#b7 ,proclamation ,the term            
,proclamation means a ,presidential     
proclamation issued under section       
#cjg7;a74  #cjb4 ,constitutional        
convention  7a7 ,election of delegates  
,not later than #ahj days after the     
effective date of certification of a    
plebiscite under this ,act that favors  
sovereignty in free association with the
 ,united ,states1 the ,legislative      
,assembly shall provide for the election
 of delegates to a constitutional       
convention to formulate and draft a     
constitution for the nation of ,puerto  
,rico4  7b7 ,eligible voters ,all       
eligible voters may vote in the election
 of delegates to the constitutional     
convention under subsection 7a74  7c7   
,general applicability of electoral law 

,the laws of the ,commonwealth of       
,puerto ,rico relating to the electoral 
process shall apply to an election held 
under subsection 7a74  7d7 ,initial     
meeting  7#a7 ,in general ,not later    
than #ahj days after the date of the    
election of delegates to the            
constitutional convention under         
subsection 7a71 the elected delegates   
shall meet at such time and place as the
 ,legislative ,assembly shall determine4
  7#b7 ,establishment ,the initial      
meeting of the elected delegates to the 
constitutional convention under         
paragraph 7#a7 shall be considered to be
 the establishment of the constitutional
 convention4  #cjc4 ,character of the   
constitution ,the constitutional        
convention shall formulate and draft a  
constitution for the nation of ,puerto  
,rico that guarantees the protection of 
fundamental human rights1 including--   
7#a7 due process and equal protection   
under the law2  7#b7 freedom of speech1 
press1 assembly1 association1 and       

religion2  7#c7 the rights of the       
accused2  7#d7 any other economic1      
social1 and cultural rights as the      
constitutional convention may determine 
to be necessary2 and  7#e7 provisions to
 ensure that no individual born in the  
nation of ,puerto ,rico shall be        
stateless at birth4  #cjd4 ,submission2 
ratification  7a7 ,submission ,not later
 than #b years after the date of        
establishment of the constitutional     
convention1 the ,elections ,commission  
shall submit the constitution formulated
 and drafted by the delegates to the    
constitutional convention to the        
eligible voters for ratification or     
rejection in a special election4  7b7   
,manner of election ,the special        
election held under subsection 7a7 shall
 be held in the manner prescribed by the
 ,legislative ,assembly4  7c7 ,rejection
 ,if the constitution of the nation of  
,puerto ,rico is rejected in a special  
election held under subsection 7a71 the 
process provided for under sections #cjb

 and #cjc and subsections 7a7 and 7b7   
shall be repeated1 except that section  
#cjb7;a7 shall be applied by            
substituting-- 7#a7 the special election
 for a plebiscite2 and  7#b7 rejects the
 ,constitution for favors sovereignty in
 free association with the ,united      
,states4  #cje4 ,election of officers   
7a7 ,in general ,not later than #cj days
 after the date of ratification of the  
constitution of the nation of ,puerto   
,rico under section #cjd1 the ,governor 
shall issue a proclamation calling for  
the election of any officers of the     
nation of ,puerto ,rico that may be     
required by the ratified constitution of
 the nation of ,puerto ,rico4  7b7      
,deadline2 procedures ,the election of  
the officers under subsection 7a7 shall 
be held-- 7#a7 not later than #ahj days 
after the date of ratification of the   
constitution of the nation of ,puerto   
,rico2 and  7#b7 in accordance with the 
procedures and requirements established 
by the constitution of the nation of    

,puerto ,rico4  7c7 ,certification of   
results ,not later than #aj days after  
the date of the election of officers    
under subsection 7a71 the ,elections    
,commission shall certify the results of
 the election under that subsection4    
7d7 ,notice ,as soon as practicable     
after the date of the certification     
under subsection 7c71 the ,governor     
shall submit notice of the results of   
the election certified under that       
subsection to-- 7#a7 the ,president2    
7#b7 the ,president pro tempore of the  
,senate2  7#c7 the ,speaker of the      
,house of ,representatives2  7#d7 the   
,committee on ,energy and ,natural      
,resources of the ,senate2 and  7#e7 the
 ,committee on ,natural ,resources of   
the ,house of ,representatives4  #cjf4  
,conforming amendments to existing law  
7a7 ,review ,not later than #cj days    
after the initial meeting of the        
constitutional convention under section 
#cjb7;d71 the ,president shall initiate 
a review of ,federal laws with respect  

to ,puerto ,rico1 including ,federal    
laws relating to-- 7#a7 taxation of     
persons and businesses2  7#b7 health    
care2  7#c7 housing2  7#d7              
transportation2  7#e7 education2 and    
7#f7 entitlement programs4  7b7         
,recommendations ,not later than #a year
 after the date on which the ,president 
initiates a review under subsection 7a71
 the ,president shall submit to         
,congress recommendations for changes to
 ,federal laws identified during the    
review1 as the ,president determines to 
be appropriate4  #cjg4 ,proclamation by 
,president2 head of state of the nation 
,puerto ,rico  7a7 ,proclamation ,not   
later than #cj days after the date of   
certification of the elected officers of
 the nation of ,puerto ,rico under      
section #cje7;c71 the ,president shall1 
by proclamation-- 7#a7 withdraw and     
surrender all rights of possession1     
supervision1 jurisdiction1 control1 or  
sovereignty exercised by the ,united    
,states over the ,commonwealth of       

,puerto ,rico and residents of the      
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico on the   
day before the date of issuance of the  
,proclamation2  7#b7 recognize1 on      
behalf of the ,united ,states1 the      
international sovereignty through free  
association of the nation of ,puerto    
,rico and the authority of the          
government of the nation of ,puerto     
,rico instituted by eligible voters     
under the constitution of the nation of 
,puerto ,rico2 and  7#c7 state that the 
effective date of withdrawal of the     
sovereignty of the ,united ,states and  
recognition of international sovereignty
 through free association shall be the  
date of issuance of the ,proclamation4  
7b7 ,transmission of ,proclamation ,not 
later than #g days after the date of    
issuance of the ,proclamation1 the      
,president shall transmit a copy of the 
,proclamation to-- 7#a7 the presiding   
officer of the constitutional           
convention2  7#b7 the officer elected as
 head of state of the nation of ,puerto 

,rico2  7#c7 the ,president pro tempore 
of the ,senate2  7#d7 the ,speaker of   
the ,house of ,representatives2  7#e7   
the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural  
,resources of the ,senate2 and  7#f7 the
 ,committee on ,natural ,resources of   
the ,house of ,representatives4  7c7    
,date government ,to take office ,not   
later than #g days after the date of    
receipt of the ,proclamation under      
subsection 7b7 and with the advice of   
the officer elected as head of state of 
the nation of ,puerto ,rico1 the        
presiding officer of the constitutional 
convention shall-- 7#a7 determine the   
date on which the government of the     
nation of ,puerto ,rico shall take      
office2 and  7#b7 submit notice of the  
date determined under paragraph 7#a7    
to-- 7,a7 the ,governor2  7,b7 the      
,president2  7,c7 the ,president pro    
tempore of the ,senate2 and  7,d7 the   
,speaker of the ,house of               
,representatives4  #cjh4 ,legal and     
constitutional provisions ,on the date  

of issuance of the ,proclamation and    
except as otherwise provided in this    
title or in any agreements between the  
,united ,states and the nation of       
,puerto ,rico-- 7#a7 all property1      
rights1 and interests that the ,united  
,states may have acquired in and to the 
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico under the
 ,treaty of ,peace between the ,united  
,states of ,america and the ,kingdom of 
,spain1 signed at ,paris on ,december   
#aj1 #ahih 7#cj ,stat4 #aged71 and      
otherwise by cession1 purchase1 or      
eminent domain1 with the exception of   
land and other property1 rights1 or     
interests that may have been sold or    
otherwise legally disposed of before the
 date of issuance of the ,proclamation1 
shall vest in the nation of ,puerto     
,rico2 and  7#b7 except as provided in  
section #cac1 all laws of the ,united   
,states applicable to the ,commonwealth 
of ,puerto ,rico on the day before the  
date of issuance of the ,proclamation   
shall no longer apply in the nation of  

,puerto ,rico4  #cji4 ,judicial         
pronouncements  7a7 ,judgments before   
,proclamation ,the nation of ,puerto    
,rico shall recognize and give effect to
 all orders and judgments rendered by   
courts of the ,united ,states or the    
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico on the   
day before the date of issuance of the  
,proclamation pursuant to the laws of   
the ,united ,states applicable to the   
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico4  7b7    
,continuity of pending proceedings ,all 
judicial proceedings pending in the     
courts of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto  
,rico on the date of issuance of the    
,proclamation shall be continued in the 
corresponding courts under the          
constitution of the nation of ,puerto   
,rico4  7c7 ,transfer of judicial power 
7#a7 ,in general ,beginning on the date 
of issuance of the ,proclamation-- 7,a7 
the judicial power of the ,united       
,states shall no longer extend to the   
nation of ,puerto ,rico2  7,b7 any      
proceeding pending in the ,united       

,states ,district ,court for the        
,district of ,puerto ,rico as of that   
date shall be transferred to the        
applicable court in the nation of       
,puerto ,rico or other competent        
judicial authority under the            
constitution of the nation of ,puerto   
,rico for disposition in accordance with
 laws applicable on the date on which   
the controversy that is the subject of  
the proceeding arose2 and  7,c7 any     
proceeding pending in the ,united       
,states ,court of ,appeals for the      
,first ,circuit or in the ,supreme      
,court of the ,united ,states as of that
 date that initiated in1 or that could  
have been initiated in1 the courts of   
the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico or in
 the ,united ,states ,district ,court   
for the ,district of ,puerto ,rico      
shall-- 7i7 continue until the date of  
final disposition2 and  7ii7 be         
submitted to the competent authority of 
the nation of ,puerto ,rico for proper  
execution4  7#b7 ,exception             

,notwithstanding paragraph 7#a71 if the 
,united ,states or any officer of the   
,united ,states is a party to a         
proceeding described in subparagraph    
7,b7 or 7,c7 of that paragraph1 any     
final judgment in that proceeding shall 
be properly executed by the competent   
authority of the ,united ,states4  #caj4
 ,citizenship and immigration laws after
 sovereignty through free association   
7a7 ,citizenship status  7#a7 ,puerto   
,rican nationality ,beginning on the    
date of issuance of the ,proclamation1  
the citizenship status of each          
individual born in ,puerto ,rico shall  
be determined in accordance with the    
constitution and laws of the nation of  
,puerto ,rico4  7#b7 ,united ,states    
immigration laws ,except as provided in 
this section1 beginning on the date of  
issuance of the ,proclamation1 a citizen
 of ,puerto ,rico seeking to enter into 
the ,united ,states or obtain           
citizenship in the ,united ,states shall
 be subject to the immigration laws4    

7b7 ,effect of ,puerto ,rican           
citizenship  7#a7 ,in general ,except as
 provided in paragraph 7#b71 nothing in 
this title precludes or limits the      
applicability of section #cdi of the    
,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h  
,u4,s4,c4 #adha74  7#b7 ,exception ,the 
provision of citizenship by the laws of 
the nation of ,puerto ,rico under       
subsection 7a77#a7 shall not constitute1
 or otherwise serve as the basis of1    
loss or relinquishment of ,united       
,states citizenship under section #cdi  
of the ,immigration and ,nationality    
,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #adha74  7c7         
,citizenship at birth after sovereignty 
7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in 
paragraph 7#b71 an individual born in   
the nation of ,puerto ,rico after the   
date of issuance of the ,proclamation to
 at least #a parent who became a ,united
 ,states citizen under section #cjb of  
the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act  
7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #adjb7 shall not be       
considered to be a ,united ,states      

citizen at birth under subsection 7c71  
7d71 or 7g7 of section #cja of that ,act
 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #adja74  7#b7 ,transition
 period ,during the period beginning on 
the effective date of certification of a
 plebiscite under this ,act that favors 
sovereignty in free association with the
 ,united ,states and ending on the date 
of issuance of the ,proclamation1 an    
individual born in the nation of ,puerto
 ,rico to #b parents who are citizens of
 the ,united ,states shall be considered
 to be a ,united ,states citizen at     
birth under section #cja7;c7 of the     
,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h  
,u4,s4,c4 #adja7;c77 if the individual  
is otherwise eligible for ,united       
,states citizenship4  7d7 ,travel and   
work authorization  7#a7 ,in general ,an
 individual in any of the following     
categories may enter1 lawfully engage in
 occupations1 and establish residence as
 a nonimmigrant in the ,united ,states  
and territories and possessions of the  
,united ,states without regard to       

paragraphs 7#e77;,a7 and 7#g7 of section
 #bab7;a7 of the ,immigration and       
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#aahb7;a773 7,a7 ,an individual who     
acquires citizenship of ,puerto ,rico at
 birth1 on or after the date of issuance
 of the ,proclamation4  7,b7 ,a         
naturalized citizen of ,puerto ,rico    
who-- 7i7 has been an actual resident of
 ,puerto ,rico for not fewer than #e    
years after attaining naturalization2   
and  7ii7 holds a proof of that         
residence4  7#b7 ,employment permission 
,an individual described in subparagraph
 7,a7 or 7,b7 of paragraph 7#a7 shall be
 considered to have the permission of   
the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security to
 accept employment in the ,united       
,states4  7#c7 ,limitations ,the right  
of an individual described in           
subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 of paragraph  
7#a7 to establish habitual residence in 
a territory or possession of the ,united
 ,states may be subjected to            
nondiscriminatory limitations provided  

for-- 7,a7 in laws or regulations of the
 ,united ,states2 or  7,b7 in laws or   
regulations of the applicable territory 
or possession that are authorized by    
,federal law4  7#d7 ,termination of     
effectiveness ,this subsection shall    
expire on termination of the articles of
 free association in accordance with    
section #cab7;c74  7e7 ,conforming      
amendments  7#a7 ,in general ,section   
#aja7;a7 of the ,immigration and        
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#aaja7;a77 is amended-- 7,a7 in         
paragraph 7#cf71 by striking ,puerto    
,rico12 and  7,b7 in paragraph 7#ch71 by
 striking ,puerto ,rico14  7#b7         
,effective date ,the amendments made by 
paragraph 7#a7 shall take effect on the 
date of issuance of the ,proclamation4  
7f7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in   
this section limits the authority of the
 ,united ,states to change any          
requirement for ,united ,states         
citizenship4  #caa4 ,bilateral          
,negotiating ,commission  7a7 ,in       

general ,if a plebiscite held under this
 ,act results in a majority vote for    
sovereignty in free association with the
 ,united ,states1 there shall be        
established1 in accordance with this    
section1 a commission1 to be known as   
the ,bilateral ,negotiating ,commission1
 which shall conduct negotiations on    
articles of free association with the   
,united ,states4  7b7 ,members ,not     
later than #ij days after the date of   
establishment of the constitutional     
convention-- 7#a7 the constitutional    
convention shall elect1 by majority vote
 of the delegates to the constitutional 
convention1 #e members from among the   
delegates of the constitutional         
convention to join the ,bilateral       
,negotiating ,commission on behalf of   
,puerto ,rico2 and  7#b7 the ,president 
shall appoint #e members to the         
,bilateral ,negotiating ,commission1 #a 
of whom shall be nominated as           
ambassador1 to negotiate on behalf of   
the ,united ,states4  7c7 ,initial      

meeting  7#a7 ,in general ,not later    
than #ahj days after the date of the    
election and appointment of the members 
to the ,bilateral ,negotiating          
,commission under subsection 7b71 the   
members of the ,bilateral ,negotiating  
,commission shall meet at such time and 
place as the ,legislative ,assembly     
determines to be appropriate4  7#b7     
,establishment ,the initial meeting     
under paragraph 7#a7 shall be considered
 to be the establishment of the         
,bilateral ,negotiating ,commission4    
7d7 ,duties ,the ,bilateral ,negotiating
 ,commission shall-- 7#a7 be responsible
 for expediting the orderly transfer to 
the nation of ,puerto ,rico of all      
functions exercised on the day before   
the date of the ,proclamation by the    
,government of the ,united ,states in   
the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico2     
7#b7 provide to ,congress               
recommendations on any appropriate      
legislation to carry out the transfer   
under paragraph 7#a71 including such    

appropriate enabling legislation as may 
be required by the articles of free     
association2  7#c7 negotiate all matters
 pertaining to the                      
government-to-government relationship   
between ,puerto ,rico and the ,united   
,states through the development of the  
articles of free association1 including 
foreign affairs1 trade1 finance1        
taxation1 security1 and defense1 dispute
 resolution1 immigration1 economic      
benefits 7including grants71 and        
termination of the free association     
status2 and  7#d7 to the maximum extent 
practicable1 complete the articles of   
free association not later than #b years
 after the date of establishment of the 
constitutional convention4  7e7         
,collaboration ,the ,commonwealth       
government and ,federal agencies shall  
collaborate with the ,bilateral         
,negotiating ,commission to provide for 
the orderly transfer of the functions of
 government as required by the articles 
of free association completed under this

 section4  #cab4 ,articles of free      
association approval1 effective date1   
and termination  7a7 ,approval ,the     
articles of free association completed  
by the ,bilateral ,negotiating          
,commission under section #caa shall    
take effect on mutual agreement between 
the ,government of the ,united ,states  
and the ,government of ,puerto ,rico    
after approval by-- 7#a7 a separate     
ratification vote on the articles of    
free association by the eligible voters 
in the special election held under      
section #cjd2 and  7#b7 the ,government 
of the ,united ,states1 in accordance   
with procedures under the ,constitution 
of the ,united ,states4  7b7 ,rejection 
,if a special election under subsection 
7a77#a7 results in rejection of the     
articles of free association1 the       
process provided for in section #caa and
 subsection 7a7 shall be repeated4  7c7 
,termination ,the articles of free      
association between the ,united ,states 
and the nation of ,puerto ,rico approved

 under this section may be terminated at
 will by the ,united ,states or the     
nation of ,puerto ,rico at any time4    
#cac4 ,individual rights to economic    
benefits and grants  7a7 ,rights and    
benefits  7#a7 ,in general ,any vested  
rights and benefits that accrue to      
residents of the ,commonwealth of       
,puerto ,rico under the laws of the     
,united ,states from past services or   
contributions1 such as rights and       
benefits for veterans of the ,armed     
,forces or relatives of veterans of the 
,armed ,forces1 retired ,federal        
,government employees1 or beneficiaries 
of old age1 disability1 or survivor     
benefits under the ,social ,security    
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cja et seq471 shall
 not be interrupted after the date of   
issuance of the ,proclamation1 but shall
 continue until the date on which the   
rights and benefits are extinguished    
according to applicable ,federal law4   
7#b7 ,agreement required ,all services  
to be provided as part of the rights and

 benefits described in paragraph 7#a7   
shall be made available through the     
government of the nation of ,puerto     
,rico in accordance with agreements     
entered into by the government of the   
nation of ,puerto ,rico and the         
,government of the ,united ,states4  7b7
 ,social ,security system  7#a7 ,in     
general ,notwithstanding subsection 7a7 
and subject to paragraph 7#b71 on the   
date on which the government of the     
nation of ,puerto ,rico establishes a   
social security system for the nation of
 ,puerto ,rico1 the ,secretary of the   
,treasury shall transfer to the         
government of the nation of ,puerto     
,rico all contributions made by         
employees and employers in the          
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico to the   
,social ,security system under the      
,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#cja et seq47 with respect to           
individuals who1 as of the date of      
issuance of the ,proclamation1 are      
residents of the nation of ,puerto ,rico

 and are not yet eligible for old age1  
disability1 or survivor benefits under  
the ,social ,security system under the  
,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#cja et seq474  7#b7 ,use of funds ,the 
government of the nation of ,puerto     
,rico may not use the amounts           
transferred under paragraph 7#a7 for any
 purpose other than the establishment   
and operation of a social security      
system for the nation of ,puerto ,rico4 
7#c7 ,obligations ,on the transfer of   
the amounts under paragraph 7#a71 the   
obligations of the ,united ,states      
,government under the ,social ,security 
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cja et seq47 with  
respect to residents of the nation of   
,puerto ,rico shall cease4  7c7 ,other  
,federal transfer payments  7#a7 ,in    
general ,any ,federal transfer payments 
to individuals and to the ,commonwealth 
government not described in subsection  
7a7 or 7b7 shall be maintained in the   
form of annual block grants to be used  
by the government of the nation of      

,puerto ,rico at the discretion of the  
government of the nation of ,puerto     
,rico4  7#b7 ,annual aggregate funding  
,during the #aj-;fiscal-year period     
beginning on the date of issuance of the
 ,proclamation1 the amount of an annual 
block grant described in paragraph 7#a7 
shall be equal to the greater of-- 7,a7 
the annual aggregate funding of all     
programs described in that paragraph    
that extend to the ,commonwealth of     
,puerto ,rico during the applicable     
fiscal year2 and  7,b7 the annual       
aggregate funding of all programs       
described in that paragraph that have   
been extended to the ,commonwealth of   
,puerto ,rico during the fiscal year    
immediately prior to the date of        
issuance of the ,proclamation4  7#c7    
,decrease in amount ,beginning in the   
#aath fiscal year after the date of     
issuance of the ,proclamation1 the      
amount of the annual block grants       
described in paragraph 7#a71 as         
calculated under paragraph 7#b71 shall  

decrease at the rate of #aj percent each
 year4  7#d7 ,modification of terms ,the
 terms of this subsection may be        
modified by agreement between the       
,united ,states and the nation of       
,puerto ,rico4  7d7 ,revision ,the terms
 and conditions of subsections 7a7 and  
7b7 may be revised as part of an        
agreement under the articles of free    
association approved under section #cab4
  ,,iv ,transition and implementation of
 statehood status  #dja4 ,definitions   
,in this title3 7#a7 ,admission date    
,the term admission date means the date 
on which the ,commonwealth of ,puerto   
,rico is admitted as a ,state of the    
,union of the ,united ,states1 as       
established under section #djb7;b77#a74 
7#b7 ,proclamation ,the term            
,proclamation means a ,presidential     
proclamation issued under section       
#djb7;b77#a74  #djb4 ,puerto ,rico      
readiness for statehood2 ,presidential  
proclamation2 admission into the ,union 
of the ,united ,states  7a7 ,assessment 

of readiness for statehood  7#a7 ,in    
general ,on receipt of a certification  
of the plebiscite results of the        
,elections ,commission pursuant to      
section #aja7;d7 in which the statehood 
status option is favored1 the           
,comptroller ,general of the ,united    
,states shall conduct a study on the    
readiness of the ,commonwealth of       
,puerto ,rico for statehood1 under which
 the ,comptroller ,general of the       
,united ,states shall examine-- 7,a7    
whether the majority of eligible voters 
that voted for statehood in the         
plebiscite reflects a sufficiently      
stable majority such that it is likely  
that the majority of the eligible votes 
would not revert to a minority of       
eligible voters in a future plebiscite2 
7,b7 whether the proposed new ,state1   
with a per capita income of #ac1cah1    
according to the #bjbj decennial census1
 has sufficient resources-- 7i7 to      
support the ,state government2  7ii7 to 
meet the restructured debt payment      

obligations1 as set forth in the        
applicable plan of adjustment filed     
under section #cab of ,,promesa 7#dh    
,u4,s4,c4 #bagb72 and  7iii7 to provide 
the applicable ,state share of the costs
 of the ,federal ,government1 including 
demonstrating the capacity to comply    
with full payment of ,federal taxes and 
other contributions in the same manner  
as existing ,states of the ,united      
,states2 and  7,c7 the impact on        
existing ,states of the ,united ,states 
and the ,united ,states as a whole of-- 
7i7 the fact that the population of the 
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico-- 7,i7 is
 greater than the population of #bi     
other ,states2 and  7,,ii7 is greater   
than the population of any ,state as of 
the date on which the ,state entered the
 ,union of the ,united ,states2  7ii7   
the fact that1 of the #ih4g percent of  
the population of the ,commonwealth of  
,puerto ,rico that is ,hispanic1 a      
substantial proportion considers ,puerto
 ,rico to be a ,spanish-speaking1       

,latino nation2 and  7iii7 the fact that
 #dc4d percent of the population of the 
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico is below 
the poverty line1 according to the #bjbj
 decennial census4  7#b7 ,deadline ,not 
later than #b years after the date of   
enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller
 ,general of the ,united ,states shall  
submit to the appropriate committees of 
,congress a report describing the       
results of the study under paragraph    
7#a74  7#c7 ,vote ,as soon as           
practicable after the date of submission
 of the study under paragraph 7#b71 the 
,senate and the ,house of               
,representatives shall each hold a vote 
on the admission of the ,commonwealth of
 ,puerto ,rico as a ,state of the ,union
 of the ,united ,states4  7b7           
,presidential proclamation2 date of     
admission  7#a7 ,in general ,on receipt 
of notice of a majority vote in the     
,senate and the ,house of               
,representatives in favor of the        
admission of the ,commonwealth of       

,puerto ,rico as a ,state of the ,union 
of the ,united ,states under subsection 
7a77#c71 the ,president shall issue a   
proclamation declaring the date on which
 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico is  
admitted as a ,state of the ,union of   
the ,united ,states1 subject to         
paragraph 7#b74  7#b7 ,requirement ,the 
date referred to in paragraph 7#a7 shall
 be a date not later than #a year after 
the date on which the ,president        
receives the notice under that          
paragraph4  7#c7 ,submission of         
,proclamation ,the ,president shall     
submit the ,proclamation to-- 7,a7 the  
,governor2  7,b7 the ,president pro     
tempore of the ,senate2  7,c7 the       
,speaker of the ,house of               
,representatives2  7,d7 the ,committee  
on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of   
the ,senate2 and  7,e7 the ,committee on
 ,natural ,resources of the ,house of   
,representatives4  7#d7 ,admission into 
the ,union of the ,united ,states  7,a7 
,in general ,subject to the provisions  

of this ,act1 on the admission date1 the
 ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico shall be
 a ,state of the ,united ,states and    
admitted into the ,union of the ,united 
,states on an equal footing with the    
other ,states in all respects4  7,b7    
,designation ,on admission into the     
,union of the ,united ,states under     
subparagraph 7,a71 the ,commonwealth of 
,puerto ,rico shall be known as the     
,state of ,puerto ,rico4  7,c7          
,incorporation ,the ,commonwealth of    
,puerto ,rico shall remain              
unincorporated until the admission date4
  #djc4 ,conforming amendments to       
existing law  7a7 ,review ,not later    
than #cj days after the date of         
certification of the plebiscite results 
of the ,elections ,commission pursuant  
to section #aja7;d7 in which the        
statehood status option is favored1 the 
,president shall initiate a review of   
,federal laws with respect to ,puerto   
,rico1 including ,federal laws relating 
to-- 7#a7 taxation of persons and       

businesses2  7#b7 health care2  7#c7    
housing2  7#d7 transportation2  7#e7    
education2 and  7#f7 entitlement        
programs4  7b7 ,recommendations ,not    
later than #a year after the date on    
which the ,president initiates a review 
under subsection 7a71 the ,president    
shall submit to ,congress               
recommendations for changes to ,federal 
laws identified during the review1 as   
the ,president determines to be         
appropriate4  #djd4 ,territory and      
boundaries ,the ,state of ,puerto ,rico 
shall consist of all of the islands1    
appurtenant reefs1 seafloor1 submerged  
land1 and territorial waters in the     
seaward boundary under the jurisdiction 
of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico on
 the day before the admission date4     
#dje4 ,constitution  7a7 ,finding2      
declaration ,congress-- 7#a7 finds that 
the constitution of the ,commonwealth of
 ,puerto ,rico approved by ,public ,law 
#hb-ddg 7#ff ,stat4 #cbg1 chapter #efg71
 as subsequently amended and in effect  

as of the day before the date of        
enactment of this ,act is-- 7,a7        
republican in form2 and  7,b7 in        
conformity with the ,constitution of the
 ,united ,states and the principles of  
the ,declaration of ,independence2 and  
7#b7 declares that the constitution of  
the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico      
approved by ,public ,law #hb-ddg 7#ff   
,stat4 #cbg1 chapter #efg71 as          
subsequently amended and in effect as of
 the day before the date of enactment of
 this ,act1 is accepted1 ratified1 and  
confirmed as the constitution of the    
,state of ,puerto ,rico4  7b7           
,requirement ,the constitution of the   
,state of ,puerto ,rico-- 7#a7 shall    
remain republican in form2 and  7#b7    
shall not be repugnant to-- 7,a7 the    
,constitution of the ,united ,states2 or
  7,b7 the principles of the            
,declaration of ,independence4  #djf4   
,elections of ,senators and             
,representatives2 certification2        
jurisdiction  7a7 ,elections of         

,senators and ,representatives ,not     
later than #cj days after the date of   
issuance of the ,proclamation1 the      
,governor shall issue a declaration to  
designate and announce the dates and    
other requirements for primary and      
general elections under applicable      
,federal and local law for              
representation of the ,state of ,puerto 
,rico in the ,senate and the ,house of  
,representatives on admission of the    
,state of ,puerto ,rico into the ,union 
of the ,united ,states4  7b7 ,resident  
,commissioner ,the office of ,resident  
,commissioner of ,puerto ,rico shall    
cease to exist on the swearing in of the
 first ,member of the ,house of         
,representatives from the ,state of     
,puerto ,rico4  7c7 ,senators and       
,representatives  7#a7 ,in general ,on  
admission into the ,union of the ,united
 ,states1 the ,state of ,puerto ,rico   
shall be entitled to representation in  
the ,senate and ,house of               
,representatives1 with the ,senators and

 ,representatives from the ,state of    
,puerto ,rico entitled-- 7,a7 to be     
admitted to seats in ,congress2 and     
7,b7 to all the rights and privileges of
 ,senators and ,representatives of the  
other ,states in ,congress4  7#b7 ,first
 election of ,senators  7,a7 ,in general
 ,in the first election of ,senators    
from the ,state of ,puerto ,rico held   
after the admission date-- 7i7 the #b   
senatorial offices shall be separately  
identified and designated2 and  7ii7 no 
individual may be a candidate for both  
,senatorial offices designated under    
clause 7i74  7,b7 ,effect ,nothing in   
this paragraph affects the privilege of 
the ,senate to determine the class and  
term to which each of the ,senators     
elected under this paragraph shall be   
assigned1 except that the #b ,senators  
may not be in same class4  7#c7         
,election of ,representatives  7,a7     
,initial elections  7i7 ,in general ,in 
the first election of ,representatives  
from the ,state of ,puerto ,rico held   

after the admission date and each       
election thereafter until the first     
census-based reapportionment election   
held after the admission date-- 7,i7 the
 ,state of ,puerto ,rico shall be       
entitled to the same number of          
,representatives as the ,state1 the most
 recent census population of which was  
closest to1 but not more than1 the      
population of the ,state of ,puerto     
,rico2 and  7,,ii7 the ,representatives 
elected shall be in addition to the     
number of ,members of the ,house of     
,representatives as prescribed by law4  
7ii7 ,increase ,any temporary increase  
in the membership in the number of      
,members of the ,house of               
,representatives under clause 7i77,,ii7 
shall not-- 7,i7 increase or decrease   
the permanent membership of the ,house  
of ,representatives as prescribed in    
sections #a and #b of the ,act entitled 
,an ,act for the apportionment of       
,representatives in ,congress among the 
several ,states under the ,thirteenth   

,census1 approved ,august #h1 #aiaa 7#b 
,u4,s4,c4 #b72 or  7,,ii7 affect the    
basis of reapportionment established by 
section #bb of the ,act entitled ,an    
,act to provide for the fifteenth and   
subsequent decennial censuses and to    
provide for apportionment of            
,representatives in ,congress1 approved 
,june #ah1 #aibi 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #b;a71   
unless ,congress increases the total    
number of ,members of the ,house of     
,representatives4  7,b7 ,census-based   
reapportionment elections  7i7 ,in      
general ,during the first census-based  
reapportionment election held after the 
admission date and each election        
thereafter1 the ,state of ,puerto ,rico 
shall be entitled to the number of      
,representatives as provided for by     
applicable law1 based on the applicable 
reapportionment4  7ii7 ,applicable law  
,the apportionment of congressional     
districts for an election under clause  
7i7 shall be conducted as provided for  
by the constitution and laws of the     

,state of ,puerto ,rico for ,state      
legislative districts4  7d7             
,certification of results  7#a7 ,in     
general ,the ,elections ,commission     
shall certify the results of the initial
 primary and general elections for      
representation in the ,senate and the   
,house of ,representatives from the     
,state of ,puerto ,rico under paragraph 
7#b7 or 7#c77;,a7 of subsection 7c7 to  
the ,governor of the ,state of ,puerto  
,rico4  7#b7 ,transmission2 declaration 
,not later than #aj days after the date 
of a certification under paragraph 7#a71
 the ,governor of the ,state of ,puerto 
,rico shall-- 7,a7 declare the results  
of the primary or general election1 as  
applicable2 and  7,b7 transmit the      
results of the election to-- 7i7 the    
,president2  7ii7 the ,president pro    
tempore of the ,senate2 and  7iii7 the  
,speaker of the ,house of               
,representatives4  7e7 ,jurisdiction of 
,district ,court ,the ,united ,states   
,district ,court for the ,district of   

,puerto ,rico shall have original and   
exclusive jurisdiction over any civil   
action alleging a dispute or controversy
 relating to any electoral process      
conducted under this section4  #djg4    
,state title to land and property  7a7  
,state title ,the ,state of ,puerto     
,rico and political subdivisions of the 
,state of ,puerto ,rico shall have and  
retain title in and to all property1    
real and personal1 held by the          
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico and      
political subdivisions of the           
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico on the   
day before the admission date4  7b7     
,federal title ,there shall remain the  
property of the ,united ,states any land
 and other property that1 as of the     
admission date1 is set aside for the use
 of the ,united ,states under-- 7#a7 an 
,act of ,congress2  7#b7 an ,executive  
order2  7#c7 a ,presidential            
proclamation2 or  7#d7 a proclamation of
 the ,governor4  7c7 ,outer ,continental
 ,shelf  7#a7 ,state of ,puerto ,rico   

,the ,state of ,puerto ,rico shall have 
the exclusive right to explore1 exploit1
 lease1 possess1 and use all seabed and 
natural and mineral resources lying     
within #c marine leagues or #i nautical 
miles from the shoreline of the ,state  
of ,puerto ,rico1 as granted under      
section #h of the ,act of ,march #b1    
#aiag 7#ci ,stat4 #ied1 chapter #ade2   
#dh ,u4,s4,c4 #gdi74  7#b7 ,united      
,states ,all other rights of sovereignty
 with respect to the outer ,continental 
,shelf of the ,state of ,puerto ,rico   
shall belong to the ,united ,states1    
except in cases in which the rights are 
vested in the ,commonwealth of ,puerto  
,rico on the day before the admission   
date4  #djh4 ,continuity of laws1       
government1 and obligations ,as of the  
admission date-- 7#a7 all of the        
territorial laws in effect in the       
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico on the   
date of issuance of the ,proclamation   
that are not inconsistent with this ,act
 or the constitution of the ,state of   

,puerto ,rico shall continue in force   
and effect throughout the ,state of     
,puerto ,rico1 until amended1 modified1 
or repealed by the ,state of ,puerto    
,rico2  7#b7 all of the laws of the     
,united ,states shall have the same     
force and effect within the ,state of   
,puerto ,rico as in the other ,states2  
7#c7 the individuals holding            
legislative1 executive1 and judicial    
offices of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto 
,rico shall continue to discharge the   
duties of the respective offices in1    
under1 or by authority of the government
 of the ,state of ,puerto ,rico1 as     
provided by the constitution and laws of
 the ,state2  7#d7 all contracts1       
obligations1 liabilities1 debts1 and    
claims of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto  
,rico and instrumentalities of the      
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico in effect
 on the admission date shall continue in
 full force and effect as the contracts1
 obligations1 liabilities1 debts1 and   
claims of the ,state of ,puerto ,rico   

and instrumentalities of the ,state of  
,puerto ,rico2 and  7#e7 all laws of the
 ,united ,states reserving to the       
,united ,states the free use or         
enjoyment of property that vests in or  
is conveyed to the ,state of ,puerto    
,rico or political subdivisions of the  
,state of ,puerto ,rico pursuant to this
 section or reserving the right to      
alter1 amend1 or repeal laws relating to
 the property shall cease to be         
effective4  #dji4 ,judicial             
pronouncements  7a7 ,pending ,a writ1   
action1 indictment1 cause1 or proceeding
 pending in any court of the            
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico as of the
 admission date-- 7#a7 shall not abate  
by reason of the admission of the ,state
 of ,puerto ,rico into the ,union of the
 ,united ,states2 but  7#b7 shall1 as   
the nature of the case may require--    
7,a7 proceed within any appropriate     
,state court established under the      
constitution of the ,state of ,puerto   
,rico2 or  7,b7 continue in the ,united 

,states ,district ,court for the        
,district of ,puerto ,rico4  7b7 ,not   
yet pending  7#a7 ,in general ,any civil
 cause of action or criminal offense    
that arose or was committed before the  
admission date1 but with respect to     
which no writ1 action1 indictment1 or   
proceeding is pending on the admission  
date1 shall be subject to prosecution in
 the appropriate ,state court or in the 
,united ,states ,district ,court for the
 ,district of ,puerto ,rico1 to the same
 extent1 and with the same right of     
appellate review1 as if the ,state court
 had been established before the accrual
 of the cause of action or the          
commission of the offense4  7#b7        
,procedural or substantive laws  7,a7   
,in general ,the admission of the ,state
 of ,puerto ,rico into the ,union of the
 ,united ,states shall not affect a     
change in the procedural or substantive 
laws with respect to a cause of action  
or criminal offense that arose or was   
committed as of the admission date4     

7,b7 ,trial ,any criminal offense       
described in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7    
that was committed in violation of the  
laws of the ,commonwealth of ,puerto    
,rico shall be tried by the appropriate 
court of the ,state of ,puerto ,rico2   
and  7ii7 that was committed in         
violation of the laws of the ,united    
,states shall be tried in the ,united   
,states ,district ,court for the        
,district of ,puerto ,rico4  7c7        
,appeals  7#a7 ,before admission date   
7,a7 ,in general ,parties to an action  
shall have the same rights of judicial  
review of final decisions of the ,united
 ,states ,district ,court for the       
,district of ,puerto ,rico or the       
,supreme ,court of ,puerto ,rico in any 
case decided before the admission date1 
regardless of whether an appeal was     
perfected prior to the admission date4  
7,b7 ,jurisdiction ,the ,united ,states 
,court of ,appeals for the ,first       
,circuit and the ,supreme ,court of the 
,united ,states shall have the same     

jurisdiction in an action described in  
subparagraph 7,a7 as by law provided    
prior to the admission date4  7#b7      
,after admission date ,any mandate      
issued after the admission date shall be
 to the ,united ,states ,district ,court
 for the ,district of ,puerto ,rico or a
 court of the ,state of ,puerto ,rico1  
as appropriate4  7#c7 ,pending action   
7,a7 ,in general ,parties shall have the
 same rights of appeal from1 and        
appellate review of1 all orders1        
judgments1 and decrees of the ,united   
,states ,district ,court for the        
,district of ,puerto ,rico and of the   
,supreme ,court of ,puerto ,rico in any 
case pending on the admission date4     
7,b7 ,jurisdiction ,the ,supreme ,court 
of ,puerto ,rico and the ,supreme ,court
 of the ,united ,states shall have the  
same jurisdiction in an action described
 in subparagraph 7,a7 as the            
jurisdiction provided in any case       
arising after the admission date4  ,v   
,transition and implementation of       

commonwealth status  #eja4 ,bilateral   
,negotiating ,commission  7a7 ,in       
general ,if a plebiscite conducted under
 this ,act results in a majority vote   
for the ,commonwealth-,estado ,libre    
,asociado status option1 there shall be 
established1 in accordance with this    
section1 a commission1 to be known as   
the ,bilateral ,negotiating ,commission1
 which shall conduct studies and        
negotiations on changes to the          
,commonwealth-,estado ,libre ,asociado  
status within the general framework of  
commonwealth status1 including the      
potential for a compact agreement       
between the ,united ,states and the     
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico to       
replace the ,act of ,july #c1 #aiej     
7commonly known as the ,puerto ,rico    
,federal ,relations ,act of #aiej7 7#fd 
,stat4 #cai1 chapter #ddf74  7b7        
,membership ,not later than #ahj days   
after the date on which the results of a
 plebiscite in favor of commonwealth    
status are submitted under section      

#aja7;d7-- 7#a7 the political party or  
organization representing the           
,commonwealth-,estado ,libre ,asociado  
status option in the plebiscite shall   
appoint #e members to the ,bilateral    
,negotiating ,commission2 and  7#b7 the 
,president shall appoint #e members to  
the ,bilateral ,negotiating ,commission4
  7c7 ,initial meeting  7#a7 ,in general
 ,not later than #ij days after the date
 on which the members of the ,bilateral 
,negotiating ,commission are appointed  
under subsection 7b71 the ,bilateral    
,negotiating ,commission shall hold a   
meeting at such time and such place as  
the members of the ,bilateral           
,negotiating ,commission determine to be
 appropriate4  7#b7 ,establishment ,the 
initial meeting under paragraph 7#a7    
shall be considered to be the           
establishment of the ,bilateral         
,negotiating ,commission4  7d7 ,duties  
,the ,bilateral ,negotiating ,commission
 shall-- 7#a7 7,a7 examine1 discuss1 and
 negotiate improvements to the          

,commonwealth-,estado ,libre ,asociado  
status2  7,b7 draft a compact agreement 
that would replace the ,act of ,july #c1
 #aiej 7commonly known as the ,puerto   
,rico ,federal ,relations ,act of #aiej7
 7#fd ,stat4 #cai1 chapter #ddf71 within
 the general framework of the           
,commonwealth-,estado ,libre ,asociado  
status2 and  7,c7 propose the draft     
compact agreement to eligible voters in 
a ratification vote in accordance with  
section #ejb7;a77#a72  7#b7 to the      
maximum extent practicable1 complete the
 work of the ,bilateral ,negotiating    
,commission not later than #b years     
after the date of the initial meeting of
 the ,bilateral ,negotiating            
,commission4  7e7 ,collaboration ,the   
,commonwealth government and ,federal   
agencies shall collaborate with the     
,bilateral ,negotiating ,commission in  
carrying out the duties of the          
,bilateral ,negotiating ,commission     
under this title4  #ejb4 ,approval2     
effective date  7a7 ,approval ,a compact

 agreement between the ,federal         
,government and the ,commonwealth       
government proposed by the ,bilateral   
,negotiating ,commission under section  
#eja shall take effect on the date of   
approval of the proposed compact        
agreement-- 7#a7 in a ratification vote 
by eligible voters in a special election
 that is held-- 7,a7 not later than #ahj
 days after the date on which the       
,bilateral ,negotiating ,commission     
releases the proposed compact agreement2
 and  7,b7 in accordance with procedures
 developed by the ,legislative          
,assembly2 and  7#b7 by the ,federal    
,government1 in accordance with         
applicable ,federal law and the         
,constitution4  7b7 ,rejection ,if the  
special election under subsection       
7a77#a7 results in a rejection of the   
proposed compact agreement1 the process 
provided in section #eja and subsection 
7a7 shall be repeated4  ,,vi            
,miscellaneous  #fja4 ,application of   
,puerto ,rico ,oversight1 ,management1  

and ,economic ,stability ,act  7a7 ,in  
general ,on the applicable date         
described in subsection 7b7-- 7#a7 the  
,puerto ,rico ,oversight1 ,management1  
and ,economic ,stability ,act 7#dh      
,u4,s4,c4 #baja et seq47 shall no longer
 apply to the ,state of ,puerto ,rico1  
the nation of ,puerto ,rico1 or the     
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 as      
applicable2 and  7#b7 7,a7 the          
,financial ,oversight and ,management   
,board established by section           
#aja7;b77#a7 of the ,puerto ,rico       
,oversight1 ,management1 and ,economic  
,stability ,act 7#dh ,u4,s4,c4          
#baba7;b77#a77 shall be terminated2     
7,b7 all duties and responsibilities    
assigned to the ,financial ,oversight   
and ,management ,board under that ,act  
as of that date shall return to the     
,state of ,puerto ,rico1 the nation of  
,puerto ,rico1 or the ,commonwealth of  
,puerto ,rico1 as applicable2 and  7,c7 
all funds1 property1 and assets of the  
,financial ,oversight and ,management   

,board as of that date shall be         
transferred to the ,state of ,puerto    
,rico1 the nation of ,puerto ,rico1 or  
the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 as  
applicable4  7b7 ,applicable date       
described ,the applicable date described
 in this subsection is-- 7#a7 the date  
on which the government of the nation of
 ,puerto ,rico takes office1 as         
established under section #bjh7;c7 or   
#cjg7;c72  7#b7 the date on which the   
,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico is       
admitted as a ,state of the ,union of   
the ,united ,states1 as declared under a
 ,presidential proclamation issued under
 section #djb7;b77#a72 or  7#c7 the date
 of ratification by eligible voters of a
 compact agreement for the ,commonwealth
 of ,puerto ,rico under section         
#ejb7;a77#a74  #fjb4 ,severability ,if  
any provision of this ,act1 or the      
application of a provision of this ,act 
to any person or circumstance1 is held  
to be invalid by a court of             
jurisdiction1 the remainder of this     

,act1 and the application of the        
provisions to any person or             
circumstance1 shall not be affected by  
the holding4