Proyecto de Admisión – Resumen de Proyecto de la Cámara, presentado por los Congresistas Darren Soto (Demócrata-FL) y Jenniffer González-Colón (Republicana-PR)
Resumen de Proyecto de la Cámara, presentado por los Congresistas Darren Soto (Demócrata-FL) y Jenniffer González-Colón (Republicana-PR)
Resumen Sección por Sección
Sección 1. Título
El título del proyecto de ley es la «Ley de Admisión a la Estadidad de Puerto Rico».
Sección 2. Hallazgos
Esta sección incluye hallazgos sobre la historia de Puerto Rico como territorio de los EE. UU.; contribuciones realizadas por miembros del servicio militar de Puerto Rico; las consecuencias del estatus de territorio no incorporado, incluido el trato desigual según las leyes y programas federales; y votaciones recientes a favor de la estadidad en la Isla, incluido el referéndum del 3 de noviembre de 2020 en el que el 52,52% votó a favor de la estadidad en un votación de sí o no siguiendo el modelo de las realizadas en Alaska y Hawaii antes de su admisión.
Sección 3. Admisión
Este artículo establece que, sujeto a las disposiciones de esta Ley, y con la emisión de la Proclamación del Presidente de Estados Unidos requerida por la Sección 7, Puerto Rico será admitido como Estado de Estados Unidos, en pie de igualdad con los demás Estados.
Sección 4. Territorio físico
El Estado de Puerto Rico estará compuesto por todas las tierras y aguas que actualmente se encuentran bajo la jurisdicción del territorio.
Sección 5. Constitución
La constitución del estado de Puerto Rico siempre será republicana y no entrará en conflicto con la Constitución de Estados Unidos ni con la Declaración de Independencia. Acepta la constitución actual [del ELA] como Constitución del Estado de Puerto Rico.
Sección 6. Certificación del Presidente
Requiere que el Presidente de Estados Unidos notifique al Gobernador de Puerto Rico una vez que él promulgue la “Ley de Admisión a la Estadidad de Puerto Rico”. La sección requiere además que el Gobernador, dentro de los treinta (30) días de haber sido notificado de la ley promulgación, emitir una proclama para la elección de los Senadores y Representantes de Puerto Rico en Congreso.
Sección 7. Voto de ratificación
Requiere que el Gobernador de Puerto Rico convoque a elecciones en las que los electores ratifiquen su deseo para la admisión de dicho territorio, como un Estado de la Unión. Específicamente, a los votantes de Puerto Rico se les hará siguiente pregunta: “¿Deberá Puerto Rico ser admitido inmediatamente en la Unión como Estado, de acuerdo con los términos prescritos en la Ley del Congreso aprobada………………………………………………………………………… (fecha de aprobación de esta
Ley) ?: Sí No » Se planteó una pregunta similar a los votantes en Alaska y Hawai
tras la promulgación de sus respectivas leyes de admisión.
Si la mayoría de los votos emitidos en la elección de ratificación antes mencionada aprueban categoría de estado:
El Presidente de la Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico certificará los resultados y transmitirlos al Gobernador. Entonces se requerirá al gobernador, dentro de los 10 días, transmitir los resultados al Presidente de Estados Unidos, al presidente pro tempore del Senado de Estados Unidos y el Presidente de la Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos.
Al recibir la notificación del gobernador, el Presidente de Estados Unidos será requerido para emitir una proclamación declarando certificados los resultados para la estadidad y declarando la fecha en que Puerto Rico será admitido como Estado, la cual debe ocurrir a más tardar más de 12 meses después de la certificación de los resultados. Tras la emisión de este presidencial proclamación, Puerto Rico se considerará admitido en la Unión como Estado.
En caso de que la mayoría de los votos emitidos en las elecciones de ratificación mencionadas anteriormente rechacen la condición de Estado:
Toda la “Ley de Admisión a la Estadidad de Puerto Rico” dejará de estar vigente [cesará de existir].
Sección 8. Oficiales Electos por el Estado de Puerto Rico
Esta sección establece el mecanismo por el cual Puerto Rico elegirá a su delegación congresional. En concreto, la proclama emitida por el Gobernador de conformidad con el Artículo 6 de esta Ley deberá cumplir con lo siguiente:
En la primera elección de Senadores, los dos cargos senatoriales se identificarán por separado y designado, y ninguna persona podrá ser candidata para ambos cargos. Además, nada debe menoscabar el privilegio del Senado para determinar la clase y plazo al que cada uno de senadores electos se designará como legislador federal.
En la primera elección de Representantes posterior a la admisión, y elecciones posteriores hasta la próxima redistribución basada en el Censo, Puerto Rico tendrá el
mismo número de Representantes como el estado cuya población estaba más cerca, en el censo más reciente pero menos que, la de Puerto Rico. La membresía total de la Cámara de Representantes será aumentada temporalmente en este número, hasta la próxima redistribución basada en el censo.
Sección 9. Continuidad de las leyes, el gobierno y las obligaciones
Esta sección especifica que hasta que Puerto Rico sea admitido como Estado, se aplicará lo siguiente:
Todas las leyes federales y locales de Puerto Rico que no estén en conflicto con esta Ley
deberán continuará en pleno vigor y efecto al momento de la admisión.
Todas las personas que ocupen cargos legislativos, ejecutivos y judiciales en Puerto Rico en
ese momento de admisión continuarán ocupando sus respectivos cargos.
Todos los contratos, obligaciones, pasivos, deudas y reclamaciones del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico y sus instrumentos continuarán en plena vigencia y efecto como los contratos, obligaciones, pasivos, deudas y reclamos del Estado de Puerto Rico y sus instrumentalidades al momento de la admisión.
El Estado de Puerto Rico y sus subdivisiones políticas retendrán el título de todas las tierras y propiedades sobre las cuales el territorio y sus subdivisiones tienen título en el momento de la admisión. Estados Unidos también retendrá el título de toda propiedad sobre la que tenga título en Puerto Rico en el momento de la admisión.
Sección 10. Derogaciones
Esta sección deroga todas las leyes federales y territoriales que son incompatibles con la estadidad.
Sección 11. Separabilidad
Si se determina que alguna parte de esta ley no es válida, el resto de la ley no se verá afectado.
117TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
(Original Signature of Member)
H. R. ll
To provide for the admission of the State of Puerto Rico into the Union.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. SOTO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
A BILL
To provide for the admission of the State of Puerto Rico into the Union.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Puerto Rico Statehood
Admission Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) United States national sovereignty in Puer-
to Rico was established by the Treaty of Paris be-
tween the United States and the Kingdom of Spain
(30 Stat. 1754), signed on December 10, 1898.
(2) Puerto Rico is governed by the United
States under laws enacted by Congress in the exer-
cise of its power to make rules and regulations gov-
erning territory belonging to the United States, pur-
suant to article IV, section 3, clause 2 of the Con-
stitution.
(3) For reasons of precedent primarily related
to the Philippines also ceded by Spain after the
Spanish-American War, substantially the same ma-
jority in the United States Supreme Court that es-
tablished the ‘‘separate but equal’’ doctrine in Plessy
v. Ferguson determined in the 1901 Downes v.
Bidwell decision that Puerto Rico was an unincor-
porated territory of the United States, a status of
possession that continues today.
(4) After agreeing to independence for the Phil-
ippines, also acquired through the Spanish-American
War, on March 2, 1917, Congress granted statutory
United States citizenship to the residents of Puerto
Rico. Such action has historically led to incorpora-
tion and eventual statehood but was denied to Puer-
to Rico due to anomalies emanating from the 1901
Downes ruling and its progeny, even as fellow Amer-
icans in Hawaii and Alaska attained statehood.
(5) Puerto Rico has a territorial constitution
that is republican in form and compatible with the
United States Constitution as well as the principles
of the Declaration of Independence, and that is
equivalent to a State constitution, having been
democratically ratified by the United States citizens
of the territory on November 4, 1952, and subse-
quently approved by the Congress of the United
States through Public Law 82–447.
(6) Thirty-two territories previously have peti-
tioned Congress for statehood based on democrat-
ically expressed consent of the governed, and each
was duly admitted as a State of the Union pursuant
to article IV, section 3, clause 1 of the United States
Constitution, with equal rights and responsibilities of
national and State citizenship under the United
States Constitution.
(7) Puerto Ricans have contributed greatly to
the nation and its culture and distinguished them-
selves in every field of endeavor. However, the denial
of equal voting representation and equal treatment
by the Federal Government stands in stark contrast
to their contributions.
(8) Since becoming a United States territory,
more than 235,000 American citizens of Puerto
Rican heritage have served in the United States
military.
(9) Thousands of United States military service
members of Puerto Rican heritage have received nu-
merous medals, distinctions, and commendations of
every degree, including for valorous military service
in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
(10) Nine United States military service mem-
bers from Puerto Rico have been awarded the Medal
of Honor, and many have been awarded the Distin-
guished Service Cross or the Navy Cross.
(11) The 65th Infantry Regiment in Puerto
Rico (known as the ‘‘Borinqueneers’’) was awarded
the Congressional Gold Medal (Public Law 113–
120) for its contributions and sacrifices in the
armed conflicts of the United States, including
World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
(12) To further recognize and pay tribute to
the bravery of the Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th
Infantry Regiment, Congress expressed support for
the designation of April 13 as National
Borinqueneers Day in the National Defense Author-
1 ization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–
2 283).
(13) Unincorporated territory status means
that Federal laws can be applied to Puerto Rico and
its American citizens differently, on unequal and, at
times inequitable terms, compared not only to the
States and their residents, but also unlike territories
that are parts of the United States. This has limited
the development of Puerto Rico and hindered its
economy.
(14) Unincorporated territory status has re-
sulted in millions of residents leaving Puerto Rico to
secure equal rights of citizenship attainable only in
a State, and that enable Americans to seek greater
opportunities and a better quality of life in the
States. Approximately 65 percent of all people of
Puerto Rican origin now live in the States, with the
increasing rate of population loss in the territory
creating a severe strain on the local tax base and
workforce participation.
(15) Other than its unincorporated territory
status and its unequal treatment under some Fed-
eral laws, Puerto Rico is socially, economically, po-
litically, and legally integrated into the nation. Nu-
merous territories admitted as States did not have
as strong a record of self-determination favoring
statehood as the majority votes by American citizens
in Puerto Rico favoring admission to the Union.
(16) In November 2012, a majority of voters
rejected continuation of the current territory status,
and 61.2 percent of those expressing a choice on sta-
tus alternatives chose statehood.
(17) In June 2017, a vote was held to confirm
the aspirations of the people of Puerto Rico. As ad-
vised by the United States Department of Justice,
all available status options were included in the bal-
lot. Amid an opposition boycott, statehood received
97 percent of the votes casted, while independence
and the current status received less than 3 percent
of the vote.
(18) In November 2020, following Alaska and
Hawaii precedent, Puerto Rico voters were presented
with the question: ‘‘Should Puerto Rico be admitted
immediately into the Union as a State? Yes or No’’.
A clear majority of 52.52 percent voted in the af-
firmative.
(19) In December 2020, the Puerto Rico legis-
lature, following the absolute majority victory ob-
tained by statehood in the plebiscite, approved a
Joint Resolution petitioning, on behalf of the People
of Puerto Rico, that Congress and the President of
the United States admit Puerto Rico into the Union
as a State and appointed official representatives to
manage the transition to statehood.
(20) No large and populous United States terri-
tory inhabited by American citizens that has peti-
tioned for statehood has been denied admission into
the Union.
SEC. 3. ADMISSION.
Subject to the provisions of this Act, and upon
issuance of the proclamation required by section 7(c), the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is hereby declared to be
a State of the United States of America, and as such shall
be declared admitted into the Union on an equal footing
with the other States in all respects.
SEC. 4. PHYSICAL TERRITORY.
The State of Puerto Rico shall consist of all the is-
lands, together with their appurtenant reefs, seafloor, and
territorial waters in the seaward boundary, presently
under the jurisdiction of the territory of Puerto Rico.
SEC. 5. CONSTITUTION.
The constitution of the State of Puerto Rico shall al-
ways be republican in form and shall not be repugnant
to the Constitution of the United States and the principles
of the Declaration of Independence. The constitution of
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as approved by Public
Law 82–447 and subsequently amended, is hereby found
to be republican in form and in conformity with the Con-
stitution of the United States and the principles of the
Declaration of Independence, and is hereby accepted, rati-
fied, and confirmed as the constitution of said State.
SEC. 6. CERTIFICATION BY PRESIDENT.
Upon enactment of this Act, the President of the
United States shall certify such fact to the Governor of
Puerto Rico. Thereupon the Governor shall, within 30
days after receipt of the official notification of such ap-
proval, issue a proclamation for the election of Senators
and Representatives in Congress.
SEC. 7. RATIFICATION VOTE.
(a) RATIFICATION OF PROPOSITION.—At an election
designated by proclamation of the Governor of Puerto
Rico, which may be either the primary or the general elec-
tion held pursuant to section 8, or a territorial general
election, or a special election, there shall be submitted to
voters, for adoption or rejection, a ballot with the following
ratification question: ‘‘Shall Puerto Rico immediately be
admitted into the Union as a State, in accordance with
terms prescribed in the Act of Congress approved
. . .. . .. . … (date of approval of this Act)?: Yes
lllll No lllll.’’.
(b) CERTIFIED RESULTS.—If the foregoing propo-
sition is adopted by a majority of the votes cast in the
election conducted under subsection (a), the President of
the State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico shall cer-
tify the results of the election and shall transmit the cer-
tified results of the election to the Governor. Not later
than 10 days after the date of certification, the Governor
shall declare the results of the election and transmit the
certified results of the submission to the President of the
United States, the President pro tempore of the Senate,
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(c) PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION.—Upon receipt of
the Governor’s declaration pursuant to subsection (b), the
President of the United States shall issue a proclamation
declaring certified the results of the submission and the
date Puerto Rico is admitted as a State of the Union on
an equal footing with all other States, which date must
follow the certification of results of the general elections
required by section 6 of this Act, but not later than 12
months from the date on which the aforementioned sub-
mission results were certified in order to facilitate a tran-
sition process. Upon issuance of the proclamation by the
President, Puerto Rico shall be deemed admitted into the
Union as a State.
(d) TERMINATION OF ACT IF PROPOSITION NOT
ADOPTED.—If the foregoing proposition is not adopted by
a majority votes cast in the election conducted under sub-
section (a), the provisions of this Act shall cease to be
effective.
SEC. 8. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The proclamation by the Governor in section 6 shall
designate and announce the dates and other requirements
for primary and general elections under applicable Federal
and local law for representation in the Senate and the
House of Representatives in accordance with the following:
(1) In the first election of Senators, the two
senatorial offices shall be separately identified and
designated, and no person may be a candidate for
both offices. Nothing in this section shall impair the
privilege of the Senate to determine the class and
term to which each of the Senators-elect shall be as-
signed.
(2) In the first election of Representatives fol-
lowing admission, and subsequent elections until the
next Census-based reapportionment cycle, Puerto
Rico shall be entitled to the same number of Rep-
resentatives as the State whose most recent Census
population was closest to, but less than, that of
Puerto Rico, and such Representatives shall be in
addition to the membership of the House of Rep-
resentatives as now prescribed by law: Provided, that
any such increase in the membership shall not oper-
ate to either increase or decrease the permanent
membership of the House of Representatives as pre-
scribed in the Act of August 8, 1911 (37 Stat. 13),
nor shall such temporary increase affect the basis of
apportionment established by the Act of November
9 15, 1941 (55 Stat. 761; 2 U.S.C. 2a), for the
Eighty-third Congress and each Congress thereafter,
unless Congress acts to increase the total number of
members of the House of Representatives. There-
after, the State of Puerto Rico shall be entitled to
such number of Representatives as provided for by
applicable law based on the next reapportionment.
The apportionment of congressional districts for the
first election and subsequent election of Representa-
tives shall be conducted as provided for by the Con-
stitution and laws of Puerto Rico.
(3) The President of the State Elections Com-
mission of Puerto Rico shall certify the results of
such primary and general elections to the Governor.
Within 10 days of the date of each certification, the
Governor shall declare the results of the primary
and general elections, and transmit the results of
each election to the President of the United States,
the President pro tempore of the Senate, and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 9. CONTINUITY OF LAWS, GOVERNMENT, AND OBLIGA-
TIONS.
Upon the admission of the State of Puerto Rico into
the Union, the following shall apply:
(1) CONTINUITY OF LAWS.—All laws of the
United States and laws of Puerto Rico not in con-
flict with this Act shall continue in full force and ef-
fect following the date of admission of Puerto Rico
as a State of the Union.
(2) CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT.—The indi-
viduals holding legislative, executive, and judicial of-
fices of Puerto Rico shall continue to discharge the
duties of their respective offices when Puerto Rico
becomes a State of the Union.
(3) CONTINUITY OF OBLIGATIONS.—All con-
tracts, obligations, liabilities, debts, and claims of
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its instru-
mentalities shall continue in full force and effect as
the contracts, obligations, liabilities, debts, and
claims of the State of Puerto Rico and its instru-
mentalities.
(4) TITLE TO PROPERTY.—The State of Puerto
Rico and its political subdivisions, as the case may
be, shall have and retain title to all lands and other
properties, real and personal, over which the terri-
tory and its subdivisions presently hold title. The
United States shall retain title to all property, real
and personal, to which it presently has title, includ-
ing public lands.
SEC. 10. REPEALS.
All Federal and territorial laws, rules, and regula-
tions, or parts of Federal and territorial laws, rules, and
regulations, applicable to Puerto Rico that are incompat-
ible with the political and legal status of statehood under
the Constitution and the provisions of this Act are re-
pealed and terminated as of the date of statehood admis-
sion proclaimed by the President under section 7(c) of this
Act. Except for those parts that are not in conflict with
this Act and the condition of statehood, the following shall
be deemed repealed upon the effective date of the admis-
sion of Puerto Rico as a State:
(1) The Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act of
22 1950 (Public Law 81–600).
23 (2) The Act of July 3, 1950 (48 U.S.C. 731b–
24 731e).
1 (3) The Act of March 2, 1917 (Public Law 64–
2 368).
3 (4) The Act of April 12, 1900 (Public Law 56–
4 191).
SEC. 11. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act, or any section, sub-
section, sentence, clause, phrase, or individual word, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance is held
invalid by a court of jurisdiction, the validity of the re-
mainder of the Act and of the application of any such pro-
vision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or in-
dividual word to other persons and circumstances shall not
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