See How Your Politicians Voted
Title: Puerto Rico Political Status bill
Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill requiring Puerto Rico to hold a referendum to determine its future political status.
Highlights:
- Creates a process for the people of Puerto Rico to decide their future political status through a referendum offering 3 options: continue as a commonwealth, statehood, or independence.
- Requires the referendum be taken by December 31, 1998.
- States that the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico would remain the same if the decision is commonwealth, with referendums held every 10 years thereafter.
- Dictates that the President must develop a transition plan over the span of 10 years if the decision is statehood within 180 days of the referendum results.
- States that Puerto Rico will hold a constitutional convention if the decision is independence with a transition plan also of 10 years.
- Requires Puerto Rico to accept English as the official language of the United States if it decides to puruse statehood.