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United States · Bill · S

S. 472 (105th)

A bill to provide for referenda in which the residents of Puerto Rico may express democratically their preferences regarding the political status of the territory, and for other purposes.

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

19 March 1997

Last action

15 July 1998 · Committee

Status

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.

Sponsors

Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID], Sen. Graham, Bob [D-FL], Sen. D'Amato, Alfonse [R-NY], Sen. Torricelli, Robert G. [D-NJ], Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI], Sen. Mack, Connie, III [R-FL], Sen. Allard, Wayne [R-CO], Sen. Thomas, Craig [R-WY], Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV], Sen. Breaux, John B. [D-LA], Sen. Warner, John [R-VA], Sen. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [R-CO], Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA], Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD]

Subjects

Taxation, Education

Source updated

24 March 2026

Taxation · Education

Summary

Declares that it is U.S. policy that the residents of Puerto Rico should be afforded periodically the opportunity freely to express a preference for preserving its current political status or choosing to seek U.S. statehood or separate sovereignty (independence or free association). Requires a referendum on these questions to be held by December 31, 1998. Sets forth specified requirements with respect to the referendum and implementation of its results. Makes funds derived from excise taxes collected on rum imported into the United States and deposited into the treasury of Puerto Rico available for grants to the State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico for: (1) costs of conducting the referendum; and (2) voter education.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 19 March 1997

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 19 March 1997

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2556-2558)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 19 March 1997

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 2 April 1998

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.

    Source: Committee

  5. 14 July 1998

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 105-706.

    Source: Committee

  6. 15 July 1998

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in Senate (text)

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 19 March 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 19 March 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 19 March 1997

    Open at official source

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Sponsors

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.

Sources

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