Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007
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The Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007 (H.R. 900), introduced in the United States House of Representatives on February 7, 2007 by José Serrano (D-New York), is a bill that would provide for referendums to be held in Puerto Rico to determine the island's ultimate political status.
The bill would provide for a referendum to be held no later than December 31, 2009. The referendum would give Puerto Ricans the choice between the options of retaining their present political status, or choosing a new status. If the former option were to win, the referendum would be held again every 8 years. If the latter option were to win, a separate referendum would be held no later than December 31, 2011. In this referendum, Puerto Ricans would be given the option of being admitted as a US State "on equal footing with the other states," or becoming a "sovereign nation, either fully independent from or in free association with the United States." Were Puerto Ricans to choose statehood, independence, or free association, US Congress would have 6 months to act on the desire of the Puerto Rican people.
The act passed committee on 25 October 2007.[1]
The act has enjoyed bi-partisan support in the House of Representatives, with 129 co-sponsors as of October 2007.[2] It has been introduced in the U.S. Senate as S 1936 with bi-partisan support on August 2, 2007 by Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) with 14 co-sponsors.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Mann, Susan. "Puerto Rico political status bill passes congressional committee", Caribbean Net News, October 25, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
- ^ H.R.900. Library of Congress (October 23, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
- ^ S. 1936: Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007 (GovTrack.us)
