United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 5563 (96th)
A bill to amend title 28 of the United States Code to provide that certain judicial pleadings and proceedings in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may be conducted in the Spanish language, and for other purposes.
Introduced
12 October 1979
Last action
3 April 1980 · Introduced
Status
Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Sponsors
Rep. Edwards, Don [D-CA-10], Rep. Seiberling, John F. [D-OH-14], Rep. Drinan, Robert F. [D-MA-4], Rep. Holtzman, Elizabeth [D-NY-16], Rep. Volkmer, Harold L. [D-MO-9], Rep. Matsui, Robert T. [D-CA-5], Rep. Hyde, Henry J. [R-IL-6], Rep. McClory, Robert [R-IL-13], Rep. Butler, M. Caldwell [R-VA-6], Rep. Beilenson, Anthony C. [D-CA-24], Rescom. Corrada, Baltasar [I-PR-At Large]
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
10 August 2026
Summary
Amends the Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act to require that initial pleadings in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico be filed in either the Spanish or English language. Requires further pleadings and proceedings to be in English, unless: (1) the defendant in a criminal case requests that they be in Spanish; (2) all parties in a civil case agree that they be in Spanish; or (3) the court orders such pleadings and proceedings to be in Spanish. Specifies language provisions for court opinions and appeals. Prohibits the disqualification of persons on a grand or petit jury in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico solely because of a person's inability to speak, read, write, and understand English if such person is able to speak, read, write, and understand the language in which the proceeding for which the juror is called is to be conducted. Allows the Government attorney to determine whether a grand jury is to be conducted in English or Spanish. Directs the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to report periodically to Congress on the implementation of this Act. Makes the provisions of this effective one year and 180 days after enactment.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
12 October 1979
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
12 October 1979
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
12 October 1979
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
24 March 1980
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment, H. Rept. 96-847.
Source: Committee
24 March 1980
Reported
Reported to House from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment, H. Rept. 96-847.
Source: Committee
1 April 1980
Passed
Measure passed House, amended.
Source: Floor
1 April 1980
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, amended.
Source: Floor
1 April 1980
Floor
Measure called up by special rule in House.
Source: Floor
3 April 1980
Introduced
Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.
Documents
3 official files
Leesvertaling
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 1 April 1980
Reported to House with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 24 March 1980
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 12 October 1979
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Rep. Edwards, Don [D-CA-10] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Seiberling, John F. [D-OH-14] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Drinan, Robert F. [D-MA-4] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Holtzman, Elizabeth [D-NY-16] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Volkmer, Harold L. [D-MO-9] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Matsui, Robert T. [D-CA-5] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Hyde, Henry J. [R-IL-6] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. McClory, Robert [R-IL-13] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Butler, M. Caldwell [R-VA-6] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Beilenson, Anthony C. [D-CA-24] · D · Cosponsor
- Rescom. Corrada, Baltasar [I-PR-At Large] · I · Cosponsor
- · ssju00 · Standing
- · hsju00 · Standing
Related records
- related to → A resolution providing for the consideration of the bill H.R. 5563 to amend title 28 of the United States Code to provide that certain judicial pleading and proceedings in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may be conducted in the Spanish language, and for other purposes.
- related to ← A bill to amend title 28 of the United States Code to provide that certain judicial pleadings in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may be conducted in the Spanish language, and for other purposes.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/96th-congress/house-bill/5563
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/96/hr/5563
- us · 96-hr-5563 · source updated 10 August 2026