This bill is one of the next bills to be voted on! It allows Puerto Ricans the option of becoming the 51st state!

1. This bill will help give the liberals a PERMANENT majority! Why are Republicans co-sponsoring this? Please call House GOP leader John Boehner and tell him that he needs to talk with the Republicans, Phone: (202) 225-4000 Co-sponsors are below - please call them also! If you know which are Republicans please highlight them.

2. Why are Puerto Ricans being given the chance to vote on this and WE, the TAXPAYERS that will be paying for them are NOT given the chance to vote on it? Why are we not being told how many people will be added to our welfare rolls if this is passed?

Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009 (Introduced in House)

HR 2499 IH

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2499
To provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 19, 2009
Mr. PIERLUISI (for himself, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. ARCURI, Mr. BAIRD, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. BERMAN, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. BOUSTANY, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CARDOZA, Mr. CASTLE, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. COSTA, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. DENT, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. FARR, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. FLAKE, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. GERLACH, Mr. GRAYSON, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. HARE, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. HOYER, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. KILDEE, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. KLEIN of Florida, Mr. KRATOVIL, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California, Mr. MACK, Mr. MAFFEI, Ms. MARKEY of Colorado, Mr. MASSA, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. MICA, Mr. MOLLOHAN, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Ms. NORTON, Mr. OLVER, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. PENCE, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. POLIS of Colorado, Mr. PUTNAM, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. REYES, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. SALAZAR, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Mr. SHULER, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. STARK, Mr. TAYLOR, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. TONKO, Mr. WALZ, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. WATSON, Mr. WATT, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. WU, Mr. YARMUTH, and Mr. YOUNG of Alaska) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources


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A BILL
To provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009'.

SEC. 2. FEDERALLY SANCTIONED PROCESS FOR PUERTO RICO'S SELF-DETERMINATION.

(a) First Plebiscite- The Government of Puerto Rico is authorized to conduct a plebiscite in Puerto Rico. The 2 options set forth on the ballot shall be preceded by the following statement: `Instructions: Mark one of the following 2 options:

`(1) Puerto Rico should continue to have its present form of political status. If you agree, mark here XX.

`(2) Puerto Rico should have a different political status. If you agree, mark here XX.'.

(b) Procedure if Majority in First Plebiscite Favors Option 1- If a majority of the ballots in the plebiscite are cast in favor of Option 1, the Government of Puerto Rico is authorized to conduct additional plebiscites under subsection (a) at intervals of every 8 years from the date that the results of the prior plebiscite are certified under section 3(d).

(c) Procedure if Majority in First Plebiscite Favors Option 2- If a majority of the ballots in a plebiscite conducted pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) are cast in favor of Option 2, the Government of Puerto Rico is authorized to conduct a plebiscite on the following 3 options:

(1) Independence: Puerto Rico should become fully independent from the United States. If you agree, mark here XX.

(2) Sovereignty in Association with the United States: Puerto Rico and the United States should form a political association between sovereign nations that will not be subject to the Territorial Clause of the United States Constitution. If you agree, mark here XX.

(3) Statehood: Puerto Rico should be admitted as a State of the Union. If you agree, mark here XX.

SEC. 3. APPLICABLE LAWS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Applicable Laws- All Federal laws applicable to the election of the Resident Commissioner shall, as appropriate and consistent with this Act, also apply to any plebiscites held pursuant to this Act. Any reference in such Federal laws to elections shall be considered, as appropriate, to be a reference to the plebiscites, unless it would frustrate the purposes of this Act.

(b) Rules and Regulations- The Puerto Rico State Elections Commission shall issue all rules and regulations necessary to carry out the plebiscites under this Act.

(c) Eligibility To Vote- Each of the following shall be eligible to vote in any plebiscite held under this Act:

(1) All eligible voters under the electoral laws in effect in Puerto Rico at the time the plebiscite is held.

(2) All United States citizens born in Puerto Rico who comply, to the satisfaction of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission, with all Commission requirements (other than the residency requirement) applicable to eligibility to vote in a general election in Puerto Rico. Persons eligible to vote under this subsection shall, upon timely request submitted to the Commission in compliance with any terms imposed by the Electoral Law of Puerto Rico, be entitled to receive an absentee ballot for the plebiscite.

(d) Certification of Plebiscite Results- The Puerto Rico State Elections Commission shall certify the results of any plebiscite held under this Act to the President of the United States and to the Members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States.


H.R.2499
Title: Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009
Sponsor: Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [PR] (introduced 5/19/2009) Cosponsors (181)
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COSPONSORS(181), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 5/19/2009 Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] - 6/3/2009
Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] - 5/19/2009 Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] - 9/8/2009
Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] - 5/19/2009 Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 6/18/2009
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 5/19/2009 Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 5/19/2009
Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] - 6/10/2009 Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] - 6/4/2009
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] - 7/21/2009 Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] - 5/19/2009
Rep Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [LA-7] - 5/19/2009 Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] - 6/18/2009
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 5/19/2009 Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] - 5/19/2009
Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] - 10/8/2009 Rep Buchanan, Vern [FL-13] - 10/6/2009
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 5/19/2009 Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] - 5/19/2009
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 9/14/2009 Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] - 7/24/2009
Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23] - 10/7/2009 Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 6/11/2009
Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18] - 5/19/2009 Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] - 6/15/2009
Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] - 6/2/2009 Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] - 5/21/2009
Rep Cassidy, Bill [LA-6] - 6/26/2009 Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE] - 5/19/2009
Rep Castor, Kathy [FL-11] - 6/17/2009 Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 5/19/2009
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 6/10/2009 Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] - 5/20/2009
Rep Connolly, Gerald E. "Gerry" [VA-11] - 5/19/2009 Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 5/19/2009
Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 5/19/2009 Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] - 10/1/2009
Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] - 5/19/2009 Rep Culberson, John Abney [TX-7] - 6/2/2009
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 5/20/2009 Rep Dahlkemper, Kathleen A. [PA-3] - 10/6/2009
Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] - 6/10/2009 Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] - 7/16/2009
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 5/19/2009 Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] - 5/19/2009
Rep Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [FL-21] - 5/19/2009 Rep Diaz-Balart, Mario [FL-25] - 5/19/2009
Rep Dicks, Norman D. [WA-6] - 6/3/2009 Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] - 6/11/2009
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] - 5/19/2009 Rep Driehaus, Steve [OH-1] - 6/17/2009
Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 5/19/2009 Rep Faleomavaega, Eni F.H. [AS] - 5/19/2009
Rep Fallin, Mary [OK-5] - 6/9/2009 Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 5/19/2009
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 5/19/2009 Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] - 5/19/2009
Rep Fleming, John [LA-4] - 6/15/2009 Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] - 6/3/2009
Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] - 5/19/2009 Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] - 5/19/2009
Rep Grayson, Alan [FL-8] - 5/19/2009 Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 6/2/2009
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] - 5/19/2009 Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 9/23/2009
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 5/19/2009 Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 5/19/2009
Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] - 6/11/2009 Rep Hensarling, Jeb [TX-5] - 7/20/2009
Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] - 9/22/2009 Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] - 5/19/2009
Rep Himes, James A. [CT-4] - 6/23/2009 Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 5/19/2009
Rep Hoyer, Steny H. [MD-5] - 5/19/2009 Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 9/25/2009
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 5/19/2009 Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 5/19/2009
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] - 5/19/2009 Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 5/19/2009
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 5/19/2009 Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 5/19/2009
Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] - 6/3/2009 Rep Klein, Ron [FL-22] - 5/19/2009
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 7/7/2009 Rep Kosmas, Suzanne M. [FL-24] - 6/19/2009
Rep Kratovil, Frank, Jr. [MD-1] - 5/19/2009 Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] - 6/2/2009
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 6/3/2009 Rep Larsen, Rick [WA-2] - 10/8/2009
Rep LaTourette, Steven C. [OH-14] - 6/10/2009 Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 5/19/2009
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 5/19/2009 Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 6/10/2009
Rep Lungren, Daniel E. [CA-3] - 5/19/2009 Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] - 9/29/2009
Rep Mack, Connie [FL-14] - 5/19/2009 Rep Maffei, Daniel B. [NY-25] - 5/19/2009
Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] - 6/8/2009 Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4] - 5/19/2009
Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 6/16/2009 Rep Massa, Eric J. J. [NY-29] - 5/19/2009
Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] - 6/17/2009 Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] - 5/19/2009
Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] - 6/8/2009 Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 5/20/2009
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 6/9/2009 Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 5/19/2009
Rep McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [CA-25] - 6/18/2009 Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] - 7/14/2009
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 7/28/2009 Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 6/10/2009
Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] - 5/19/2009 Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] - 6/9/2009
Rep Mollohan, Alan B. [WV-1] - 5/19/2009 Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 5/19/2009
Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] - 9/22/2009 Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 5/19/2009
Rep Nunes, Devin [CA-21] - 6/17/2009 Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 5/19/2009
Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] - 5/19/2009 Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 6/3/2009
Rep Pence, Mike [IN-6] - 5/19/2009 Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] - 6/9/2009
Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 6/2/2009 Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] - 6/23/2009
Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] - 5/19/2009 Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2] - 5/19/2009
Rep Posey, Bill [FL-15] - 6/3/2009 Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] - 6/2/2009
Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] - 5/19/2009 Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] - 5/19/2009
Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16] - 5/19/2009 Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] - 5/19/2009
Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] - 7/15/2009 Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] - 6/4/2009
Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] - 5/19/2009 Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] - 6/15/2009
Rep Sablan, Gregorio [MP] - 5/19/2009 Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] - 5/19/2009
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 5/19/2009 Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] - 7/7/2009
Rep Schock, Aaron [IL-18] - 6/4/2009 Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] - 6/16/2009
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 10/8/2009 Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] - 10/8/2009
Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] - 6/3/2009 Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] - 5/19/2009
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] - 6/4/2009 Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] - 10/7/2009
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] - 5/19/2009 Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 6/8/2009
Rep Speier, Jackie [CA-12] - 6/8/2009 Rep Spratt, John M., Jr. [SC-5] - 6/9/2009
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 5/19/2009 Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] - 6/2/2009
Rep Taylor, Gene [MS-4] - 5/19/2009 Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] - 10/6/2009
Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-2] - 5/19/2009 Rep Thompson, Glenn [PA-5] - 6/2/2009
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] - 7/7/2009 Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] - 9/24/2009
Rep Titus, Dina [NV-3] - 6/23/2009 Rep Tonko, Paul D. [NY-21] - 5/19/2009
Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] - 7/8/2009 Rep Walden, Greg [OR-2] - 6/18/2009
Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] - 5/19/2009 Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] - 7/7/2009
Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [FL-20] - 5/19/2009 Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 5/19/2009
Rep Watt, Melvin L. [NC-12] - 5/19/2009 Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 5/19/2009
Rep Welch, Peter [VT] - 6/4/2009 Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] - 5/19/2009
Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 5/19/2009 Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 5/19/2009
Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] - 6/16/2009 Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 6/8/2009
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] - 5/19/2009 Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] - 5/19/2009
Rep Young, Don [AK] - 5/19/2009