PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
Congressional Research Service
Version 36 · Passed House amended · Apr 29, 2010
Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2010 - Authorizes the government of Puerto Rico: (1) to conduct a plebiscite giving voters the option to vote to continue Puerto Rico's present political status or to have a different political status; (2) if a majority of ballots favor continuing the present status, to conduct additional such plebiscites every eight years; and (3) if a majority of ballots favor having a different status, to conduct a plebiscite on the options of becoming fully independent from the United States, forming with the United States a political association between sovereign nations that will not be subject to the Territorial Clause of the Constitution, being admitted as a state of the Union, or continuing its present political status.
Prescribes the eligibility requirements for voting in a plebiscite. Requires the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission to: (1) certify plebiscite results to the President and Congress; and (2) ensure that all ballots used for a plebiscite include the full content of the ballot printed in English. Directs the Commission to inform persons voting in a plebiscite that if Puerto Rico retains its current political status or is admitted as a state: (1) the official language requirements of the federal government shall apply to Puerto Rico; and (2) it is the best interest of the United States for the teaching of English to be promoted in Puerto Rico as the language of opportunity and empowerment in order to enable students in public schools to achieve English language proficiency.
Requires the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to pay all costs associated with such plebiscite (including the costs of printing, distribution, transportation, collection, and counting of all ballots).
People & committees
Rescom. Pierluisi, Pedro R. [D-PR-At Large] · D–PR
Legislative record
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Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 223 - 169, 1 Present (Roll no. 242).
House roll call 242 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 223 - 169, 1 Present (Roll no. 242).
House roll call 242 · Individual votesOn motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 194 - 198 (Roll no. 241).
House roll call 241 · Individual votesThe previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H3058)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hastings (WA) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House with an amendment to allow Puerto Rico to be admitted as a State of the Union and ensure that english shall be the official language of the State; and to allow the residents of Puerto Rico to have the right to own, possess, carry, or use firearms for lawful defense.
Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to recommit with instructions to Natural Resources. (consideration: CR H3057-3058; text: CR H3057)
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text: CR H3041)
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2499.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the question of adoption of amendments which had been previously debated and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1305, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hastings (WA) amendment in the nature of a substitute.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Velazquez amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Rahall demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1305, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Velazquez amendment in the nature of a substitute number 7.
DEBATE - At the conclusion of debate on the Velazquez amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Rahall demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1305, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Velazquez amendment number 6.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Velazquez amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Velazquez demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1305, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Velazquez amendment number 5.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Burton (IN) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Burton (IN) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1305, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Burton (IN) amendment.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Gutierrez amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Velazquez demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1305, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gutierrez amendment number 3.
POSTOPNED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Gutierrez amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Gutierrez demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1305, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gutierrez amendment number 2.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Foxx amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Rahall demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1305, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Foxx amendment.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour and thirty minutes of general debate on H.R. 2499.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Adam B. Schiff to act as Chairman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1305 and Rule XVIII.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2499 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. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1305. (consideration: CR H3029-3059)
Rule H. Res. 1305 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1305 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2499 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. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 164.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 111-294.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 111-294.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 8.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Committee Hearings Held.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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