HR 856 105th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Agriculture and Food Alcohol tax Alcoholic beverages Caribbean area Conferences Congress Congressional oversight Congressional reporting requirements Democracy Economics and Public Finance Education Election administration Elementary and secondary education Elementary education Elementary school students English language Expedited congressional procedure Federal aid to education Federal-territorial relations

United States-Puerto Rico Political Status Act

Introduced: February 27, 1997 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 41 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jul 15, 1998

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.

Jul 14, 1998

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.

Apr 2, 1998

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.

Mar 5, 1998

Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Mar 4, 1998

The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 856.

Mar 4, 1998

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Mar 4, 1998

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 209 - 208 (Roll no. 37).

Mar 4, 1998

The amendment, as amended by the Burton substitute, would to specify that, in the event that a referendum held under the provisions of the bill results in approval of sovereignty leading to Statehood, upon accession to Statehood, the official language requirements of the Federal Government would apply to Puerto Rico in the same manner and to the same extent as throughout the United States. The amendment would call upon promoting English proficiency in the public schools by the age of 10.

Mar 4, 1998

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

Mar 4, 1998

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 856.

Mar 4, 1998

The Chair announced that proceedings would resume on those amendments on which further action had been postponed.

Mar 4, 1998

At the conclusion of debate, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the Gutierrez amendment and announced that, by voice vote, the amendment was not agreed to. Mr. Gutierrez requested a recorded vote and, pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 376, further proceedings were postponed.

Mar 4, 1998

At the conclusion of debate, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the Barr amendment and announced that, by voice vote, the amendment was not agreed to. Mr. Barr requested a recorded vote and, pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 376, further proceedings were postponed.

Mar 4, 1998

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Stearns amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and announced that by voice vote, the noes had prevailed. Mr. Stearns demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further procedings until later in the legislative day.

Mar 4, 1998

GENERAL DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 376, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the general subject of allowing individuals who were born in Puerto Rico, but not currently residents of Puerto Rico, to vote in the proposed referendum authorized by the bill. At the conclusion of debate, it shall be in order to propose an amendment regarding voting participation in the referendum.

Mar 4, 1998

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 376, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Burton amendment.

Mar 4, 1998

DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous unanimous consent agreement, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Gutierrez amendment.

Mar 4, 1998

LIMITATION ON DEBATE - Mr. Solomon asked unanimous consent that the hour of debate on the Solomon amendment, and all amendments thereto, be allocated as follows: 30 minutes to Mr. Solomon, 6 minutes to Mr. Gutierrez, 12 minutes to Mr. Burton, 12 minutes to Mr. Miller of California, subject to equitable reductions, if necessary to remain within the one hour of consideration permitted under H. Res. 376.

Mar 4, 1998

GENERAL DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions H. Res. 376, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of debate on the general subject of establishing English as the official language of the United States. At the conclusion of debate, the rule provides for the consideration of an amendment to establish English as the official language.

Mar 4, 1998

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 90 minutes of general debate.

Mar 4, 1998

The Speaker designated the Honorable Lincoln Diaz-Balart to act as Chairman of the Committee.

Mar 4, 1998

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 376 and Rule XXIII.

Mar 4, 1998

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 856 with 1 hour and 30 minutes of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. In lieu of the amendment recommended by the Committee on Resources now printed in the bill, it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Congressional Record. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments. Specified amendments are also in order.

Mar 4, 1998

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 376. (consideration: CR H772-837)

Mar 4, 1998

Rule H. Res. 376 passed House.

Mar 3, 1998

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 376 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 856 with 1 hour and 30 minutes of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. In lieu of the amendment recommended by the Committee on Resources now printed in the bill, it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Congressional Record. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments. Specified amendments are also in order.

Jul 11, 1997

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 106.

Jul 11, 1997

Committee on Rules discharged.

Jun 12, 1997

House Committee on Rules Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than July 11, 1997.

Jun 12, 1997

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 105-131, Part I.

May 21, 1997

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 1.

May 21, 1997

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Apr 21, 1997

Field Hearings Held in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

Apr 19, 1997

Field Hearings Held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Mar 19, 1997

Committee Hearings Held.

Mar 4, 1997

Executive Comment Requested from Commerce.

Feb 27, 1997

Referred to House Rules

Feb 27, 1997

Referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Feb 27, 1997

Referred to House Resources

Feb 27, 1997

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E351-852)

Feb 27, 1997

Introduced in House

Votes taken on this bill 1

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Mar 4, 1998	House · vote #37	On Passage	Passed	209–208	See who voted →

Amendments to this bill 13

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

2 agreed to 11 failed

Amendment	Sponsor	Purpose	Status	Latest action
HAMDT 513	—	An amendment, printed as amendment No. 24 in the Congressional Record of March 3, 1998 to amend the definitio…	Failed	Mar 4, 1998
HAMDT 512	—	An amendment to allow Puerto Rico to retain its separate Olympic Committee and ability to compete under its o…	Failed	Mar 4, 1998
HAMDT 511	—	An amendment to strike the "findings" section of the bill.	Failed	Mar 4, 1998
HAMDT 510	Velázquez, Nydia M.	An amendment to specify that Puerto Rican citizenship is separate and distinct from U.S. citizenship and that…	Failed	Mar 4, 1998
HAMDT 509	—	An amendment to strike the provisions allowing for approval of any status option by a simple majority and ins…	Failed	Mar 4, 1998
HAMDT 508	—	An amendment numbered 5 as printed in the Congressional Record to strike the phrase "Consistent with establis…	Failed	Mar 4, 1998
HAMDT 507	—	An amendment to strike the provision authorizing a referendum every ten years and to propose that in the refe…	Failed	Mar 4, 1998
HAMDT 506	—	An amendment numbered 36 as printed in the Congressional Record to clarify that Congress recognizes that Puer…	Failed	Mar 4, 1998
HAMDT 505	—	An amendment offered as a substitute for the Serrano amendment to provide that an individual residing outside…	Failed	Mar 4, 1998
HAMDT 504	—	An amendment to provide that individuals residing outside of Puerto Rico shall be eligible to vote in the ref…	Failed	Mar 4, 1998
HAMDT 503	—	An amendment offered as a substitute for the Solomon amendment to specify that, in the event that a referendu…	Agreed to	Mar 4, 1998
HAMDT 502	—	An amendment to delete the provisions of the Solomon amendment with language declaring Spanish is the officia…	Failed	Mar 4, 1998
HAMDT 501	—	An amendment to establish English is the official language of the United States. The amendment would specify …	Agreed to	Mar 4, 1998

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Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

United States-Puerto Rico Political Status Act - Declares that: (1) if the referendum held under this Act results in approval of sovereignty leading to Statehood for Puerto Rico, the English language requirements of the Federal Government shall apply to Puerto Rico to the same extent as Federal law requires throughout the United States; and (2) it is in the best interest of Puerto Rico to promote the teaching of English as the language of opportunity and empowerment in the United States in order to enable public school students to achieve English language proficiency by the age of ten.

Requires a referendum to be held by December 31, 1998, on Puerto Rico's political status, for either: (1) retention of its present Commonwealth status; (2) full self-government through separate sovereignty leading to independence or free association; or (3) full self-government through U.S. sovereignty leading to statehood.

Requires the President to develop and submit to the Congress for approval legislation for: (1) a transition plan of not more than ten years which leads to full self-government for Puerto Rico; and (2) a recommendation for the implementation of such self-government consistent with Puerto Rico's approval. Requires the transition plan, if the vote favors statehood, to: (1) include proposals and incentives to increase the opportunities of the people of Puerto Rico to expand their English proficiency, including teaching in English in public schools, awarding fellowships and scholarships, and providing grants to organizations to promote English language skills; (2) promote the use of English by U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico; and (3) include the effective date of Puerto Rico's incorporation into the United States. Authorizes the Government of Puerto Rico, in the event of a vote in favor of Commonwealth, to call a Special Convention to develop proposals for submission to the President and the Congress for changes in Federal policy on economic and social matters of concern to the Puerto Rican people.

Authorizes further referenda, at least once every ten years, if the referendum conducted under this Act does not result in a majority vote for separate sovereignty or statehood.

Sets forth specified requirements with respect to the referendum and congressional procedures for consideration of legislation.

Makes funds available for the referendum, including those derived from the Federal excise tax on foreign rum. Requires the Government of Puerto Rico to make grants to the State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico for referenda held under this Act.

What's happening now July 15, 1998

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.

Related & companion bills 1

Bill text 4 versions

Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF
Referred in Senate Formatted Text PDF
Reported in House Formatted Text PDF

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 3

Natural Resources Committee
House of Representatives
Rules Committee
House of Representatives
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Senate

Cosponsors 10

Clyburn, James E.

South Carolina · Apr 10, 1997

Hoyer, Steny H.

Maryland · Apr 10, 1997

Markey, Edward J.

Massachusetts · Apr 10, 1997

Bishop, Sanford D.

Georgia · Feb 27, 1997

Calvert, Ken

California · Feb 27, 1997

Norton, Eleanor Holmes

District of Columbia · Feb 27, 1997

Pallone, Frank

New Jersey · Feb 27, 1997

Pelosi, Nancy

California · Feb 27, 1997

Smith, Adam

Washington · Feb 27, 1997

Thompson, Bennie G.

Mississippi · Feb 27, 1997

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APA

U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 856: United States-Puerto Rico Political Status Act. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-856/

MLA

"H.R. 856: United States-Puerto Rico Political Status Act." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-856/.

Bluebook (legal)

H.R. 856, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-856/.

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